LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted Friday that the spat with Mohamed Salah has been “completely resolved”, adding that his long history with the star forward has given them a permanent relationship. He said that no damage was left behind.
Klopp and Salah were involved in a collision on the touchline during Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham. Asked to comment on the incident after the match, Egypt international Salah was heard saying: “If I spoke today there would be a firestorm.”
Almost a week later, Klopp said the issue was “off the table”.
“There's no problem,” Klopp said on Sunday ahead of Liverpool's Premier League game at home to Tottenham. “If we hadn't known each other that long, I don't know how we would have handled it, but we've known each other that long and we respect each other so much that it's actually fine. ”
The incident occurred as Salah was preparing to come on as a substitute, having been placed on the bench for the second time in three games.
“Generally speaking, the best situation would be one where everyone is in the best possible position, winning games and scoring a lot of goals. So then[Salah's]situation is probably like that. It wouldn't have been a big deal,” said Klopp. “Then Mo wouldn't have been on the bench in the first place.”
Manager Klopp, who will leave Liverpool at the end of this season after nearly nine years in charge, was asked whether 31-year-old Salah should be included in the new manager's plans. Salah, who has been a Liverpool player since 2017, has been linked with a move to the Saudi League.
“As I said before, what a great player he is. He's an unbelievable person,” Klopp said. “But to be honest, I don't think we should talk about it. That's for others to decide, especially Mo.”
“There's no indication at all that it won't happen. But I've been really the wrong person to talk about this kind of thing for the past few weeks.”
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