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Mohamed Salah and agent may have dropped big hints over Liverpool future in Man Utd win

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Mohamed Salah and his agent Ramy Abbas Issa may have dropped hints about the forward’s Liverpool future in the 4-2 Premier League win over Manchester United on Thursday night.
The Reds secured their first Old Trafford triumph in seven years with two goals in either half helping them to a crucial win in their chase for Champions League qualification.

Diogo Jota cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ opener before a Roberto Firmino brace, with strikes either side of the break, gave Liverpool a two-goal cushion.

While Marcus Rashford threatened the Merseyside outfit’s prospects of victory when he made it 3-2, Salah stole away on the counter-attack for a killer fourth goal at the death.

The Egyptian’s finish beyond Dean Henderson into the far corner was his 30th goal of the season across all competitions and his 21st in the Premier League.

That puts him level with Tottenham striker Harry Kane in the Golden Boot race and there was the added bonus of him wearing the captain’s armband as he scored.

Salah was upset earlier in the season that Trent Alexander-Arnold – who skippered the side after Salah went off late on – was handed the armband over him in a Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland.

DON’T MISS: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has big call justified in Man Utd win

And his emotions were obvious once he made it 4-2 for Liverpool in Manchester as he sunk to his knees to toast an unforgettable victory, letting out a triumphant roar.

Abbas Issa, the player’s representative, tweeted shortly after: “My celebration of that goal wasn’t that different than Mohamed’s.”

Salah’s goal means Liverpool sit four points off of fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, though the Blues face third-placed Leicester in their next league match, with both teams catchable for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

That fixture, which guarantees at least one of the two teams dropping points, means should the Reds win all of their final three games against West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace, they stand an excellent chance of securing fourth spot.

And the unified reaction of Salah and Abbas Issa hints that despite rumours the Egypt international might be on his way out of Liverpool this summer, perhaps he’s staying after all.

Of course, there are a multitude of reasons Salah will have been delighted to have found the net, not least sealing a win over Liverpool’s biggest rivals.

Salah has made it clear he loves chasing individual records and so hitting the 30-goal mark again will have meant a lot to him, as will tying Kane as he bids to end as the Premier League’s highest scorer again.

There are other less important but still notable reasons too. It was a big win for Liverpool’s top-four chances, and qualifying for the competition of course nets the players a nice financial bonus each.

Plus there’s the again-more-important fact that he is a relentless competitor and loves to win.

As well as that, a late goal away at United for such a big victory keeps Salah’s profile high, with it clear he wants to be regarded as one of the very best in the world – and the numbers speak for themselves during his time at Anfield.

Yet there is one main reason why Salah and his agent would be so delighted by his goal and the three points.

That is because it gives Liverpool such a good chance of having Champions League football to play next term, and if Salah wants to stay, he will obviously want to play in UEFA’s premier competition rather than the lesser Europa League.

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He may have flirted with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the press earlier this season but clearly Salah is still happy playing his stuff under Klopp, provided the team continue to compete. They haven’t done this season of course, albeit in unusual circumstances.

A top-four finish would allow Liverpool to wipe the slate of this season clean and start fresh next term once injured players such as Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson return.

Staying in the Champions League would be huge for Liverpool in many ways, not just because of how much easier it would make keeping Salah, although they still must decide whether to hand the 28-year-old – who is 29 in June – a big-money contract extension to his current deal which expires in 2023.

And clearly the forward agrees about the importance of the competition.

Salah’s goal at United in addition to being his 30th of the season was his 124th overall for Liverpool in what was his 200th appearance for the club.

Only Roger Hunt (133) and Gordon Hodgson (125) have outscored Salah in their first 200 matches for the club, with the African also having laid on 42 assists in that time.

At his current goalscoring rate, should he play as many times for Liverpool as Hunt did (416 appearances) then he will end on 258 goals which would make him the third-highest scorer in the club’s history. He’d love to add plenty more Champions League goals to his Anfield tally.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Sport Feed

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Mohamed Salah says “no one is talking to him” about new Liverpool contract

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Mohamed Salah admits he is yet to hold talks over a new Liverpool contract as he approaches the final two years of his current deal.

The Egyptian has enjoyed another stunning season even as those around him have struggled, scoring 29 times in all competitions.

But Salah has also talked up a move to Spain on multiple occasions within the last few months, admitting he could join La Liga giants Real Madrid or Barcelona “one day”.

Given his importance to Jurgen Klopp’s side, Anfield chiefs may be tempted to thrash out a new contract with the 28-year-old to quash speculation – but Salah claims such talks have not taken place.

“No one is talking to me about that, so I can’t say much about that,” Salah told Sky Sports of his contract situation.

“No one in the club is talking to me about anything so I do not know.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Salah says he is focussed on firing Liverpool to more success in the Champions League and Premier League.

Is Mohamed Salah Liverpool’s most important player? Have your say in the comments.

“I said before that I want to win the Premier League again, I want to win the Champions League again,” he added.

“It’s a great thing to win, I’m just trying to win it again and again. Part of our job is to win trophies.”

Even though he has been prolific in front of goal, it has been a turbulent season for Salah and he could not hide his fury after he was substituted against Chelsea in March.

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But Klopp refused to contemplate the idea of Salah leaving Merseyside as he heaped praise on the former Chelsea star earlier this year.

“In Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves,” said the Reds boss. “But Mo is not only a goalscorer. He is developed football-wise as well – and is a very, very important player for us.

“And hopefully he will be that for a very long time, of course.”

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Author: [email protected] (Freddie Keighley)
This post originally appeared on Mirror – Football

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Real Madrid overcome bus attack and Liverpool to book spot in Champions League semis, as fans blast Salah for missed chances

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Real Madrid held off a siege from Liverpool to knock the English club out of the Champions League and advance to the semi-finals.

With their 3-1 first leg triumph at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium proving enough to top Jurgen Klopp’s men, Los Blancos will now face Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Chelsea in the last four. 

Not shaken up by an alleged bus attack akin to Manchester City at this point of the competition in 2017-2018, the 13-time winners kept a solid clean sheet even with a threadbare back line.

Young midfielder Fede Valverde was thought to be a weak link and was targeted by Sadio Mane early in the second installment of this quarter final tie, while Zinedine Zidane was also unable to call on the expertise of veterans Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. 

With Nacho and Eder Militao, however, plus Marcelo-replacement left back Ferland Mendy, the Spaniards were in safe hands. 

Finally starting to realize his potential since a move from Porto via Sao Paulo, as a potential heir to the likes of Thiago Silva in the national team fold, Brazilian Militao was particularly effective in coming up with a series of important blocks. 

As suggested, the Reds had plenty of chances to overturn the scoreline but were wasteful with only five of a total 15 attempts on target. 

Mohamed Salah was particularly excruciating to watch, and set the tone for the evening when missing a sitter within two minutes. 

Approaching half time, the Egyptian and Gini Winaljdum both failed to trouble Thibaut Courtois in the box, and there were further opportunities squandered when the hosts came back out after the interval.

Klopp’s decision to leave out reigning UCL champion Thiago in another big game was again questioned, and the playmaker’s introduction saw greater creativity moving forward.

But as service to Salah was once more squandered by the possible-Madrid bound forward, a fading club hero was blasted by fans online.

“Sell him ASAP,” demanded one.

“Has Salah signed for Real already?,” asked another.

“His audition for Madrid isn’t going well” it was also pointed out, while elsewhere someone commented: “He has to score these.”

Topping off what was dubbed a “monstrous defensive performance”, Madrid held on to reach their eighth out of 10 possible semifinals on the continent, and they are now just 180 minutes away from a fourth out of five possible finals on supposed fraud Zidane’s watch.

As for Liverpool, they were left to reflect on what could have been, as they succumbed to a second successive elimination by a team from the Spanish capital. 
Also on rt.com ‘Shameful’: Window of Real Madrid bus SMASHED as Liverpool fans ‘hurl missiles’ ahead of Champions League clash at Anfield (VIDEO)

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Jurgen Klopp hits out at Liverpool stars over Real Madrid loss despite Mo Salah 'lifeline'

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side didn’t deserve anything more and simply “didn’t play good enough football” after Real Madrid left them with it all to do in their Champions League quarter-final tie. The Spanish heavyweights were 3-1 first-leg winners in Madrid on Tuesday night courtesy of a Vinicius Junior brace but Klopp felt his side made it “too easy” for their hosts.
Liverpool came into the clash with confidence after a 3-0 dismantling of Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday but were dire against their savvy opposition here and have given themselves a massive task in the return leg at Anfield, where they haven’t won across all competitions in 2021.

Naby Keita, who came in for Thiago Alcantara, was withdrawn after just 42 minutes with Liverpool as an entire team thoroughly second-best in the Spanish capital in the first half.

Vinicius and Marco Asensio were both on the scoresheet before Mohamed Salah reduced the arrears early into the second half with what was Liverpool’s only shot on target all night.

But 20-year-old Brazilian Vinicius scored his second of the evening with 25 minutes to play as the La Liga giants, who face Barcelona in the Clasico this weekend, earned a thoroughly-deserved advantage to take to England next week.

Liverpool must win 2-0 or score four times if Real Madrid net once at Anfield if they are to progress to the semi-finals, where they would take on either Chelsea or Porto.

And Klopp told BT Sport: “If you want to go to the semi-finals you have to earn the right to do so. We didn’t do that tonight, especially in the first half.

“The only good thing I can say about the game apart from the goal we scored is that it’s only the first half of the leg. We just didn’t play good enough football tonight to cause Real Madrid problems.

“I really thought that would’ve been possible but now we have to show it in the next game. We cannot show it anymore tonight. We made it too easy for them, that’s the main thing.

“The goals in the end, they were the quick-thinking of Real Madrid and we were a little bit late. These mistakes can happen. 

“I wasn’t happy with the way we played football when we were in possession. We had to play better football. We didn’t deserve a lot more tonight. The goal we scored in the second half was OK and gives us a lifeline.

“Intensity with the ball especially [we need more of in the second leg]. You can’t defend the speed of Real Madrid when you give them the ball in the wrong moments.

“If you lose the ball and you lose it in the right moments, you are in formation, you play counter-press, can win the ball back.

“We lost the ball in the wrong moments with so many easy passes. We passed the ball to their feet. Then you have these really quick and world-class players in one-on-one situations.

“That is not good. We have to be in possession much better and defensively as well. It’s not about the last line, it’s about what we do in front of that.”

He added of the decision to withdraw Keita before half-time: “I know it’s now a big story and I don’t like it. But Naby wasn’t in the game. He wasn’t the only one but we need him in the game playing football.

“It was tactical. I could have done a few more changes in that moment. Thank God I didn’t! It’s just that.”

Liverpool’s captain on the night Gini Wijnaldum reflected to BT Sport: “It was difficult. I think because we played against a good side and the way we did it in the first half was not good.

“When we recovered the ball we lost it too quick with simple passes. I think that was the reason why we couldn’t come into our game.

“What we did at the weekend quite well, we recovered the ball when we counter pressed and when we had the ball we played good football.

“We didn’t do that in the first half, we lost the ball too easily and I think two moments where we were not concentrating enough, they scored.
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“It was difficult in the first half. We were not concentrating enough, not sharp enough. I think it was a long ball and we didn’t stand well at the back and that’s why it happened, what happened for the second goal.

“We just said [at half time that] in the second half we have to play our football, don’t lose the ball too easily and concentrate more than in the first half.

“We had to stand better at the back, because they were a few times dangerous with the long balls, and also in the second half, I have to say.

“Just play our own game. I think that’s why we scored our goal, but unfortunately they scored again but it makes it more difficult than when it’s 2-1.

“It gives us confidence, of course. Of course we hoped for a better result now but we have to hang on the good things and that’s the away goal.

“Now we just have to make sure we score two to win and don’t concede an away goal.”

Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Anfield in the league on Saturday (3pm) before their return leg against Real Madrid next Wednesday (8pm). 

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Liverpool star Mohamed Salah refuses to rule out transfer exit – 'It's not up to me'

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Mohamed Salah has again refused to rule out a move away from Liverpool, doubling down on earlier claims that he would be open to joining a Spanish side in the near future. The 28-year-old has been linked with a switch to Real Madrid or Barcelona since December last year after suggesting in a previous interview that he is a huge admirer of both clubs.
Salah has been one of Liverpool’s few shining lights this season, leading the attacking charge with 25 goals from 40 appearances in all competitions.

He has featured in all but one of his side’s Premier League matches and is the division’s joint-top scorer alongside Tottenham and England star Harry Kane.

The Reds have relied heavily on Salah’s impact in recent campaigns, with the Egyptian winger playing a huge role in helping the club to achieve a seventh Champions League title in 2019 before chipping in with 29 goal contributions as the Merseyside club ended a 30-year wait for a domestic title last year.

However, it seems as though he could be set to call time on his Anfield career within the next couple of seasons after suggesting that a new challenge could soon be on the horizon.

He revealed to Marca that he is unsure where his future lies, admitting that he could be tempted to seek a new club in La Liga before his eventual retirement.

JUST IN: Barcelona offer ‘Wijnaldum contract’ with Liverpool star set for move

“It is not up to me,” explained Salah. “We’ll see what happens but I prefer not to talk about this now.”

When quizzed specifically on the prospect of playing in Spain, he added: “I hope I can play soccer for many, many years. Why not? Nobody knows what will happen in the future, so maybe one day.”

Salah’s relationship with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appears from the outside to have been tested on a number of occasions this season.

Rumours of a rift were sparked by the forward’s surprise omission from the starting side that inflicted a 7-0 thrashing on Crystal Palace back in December, before he scored a late brace after being introduced from the bench.

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He also appeared to react negatively to being substituted during the narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea earlier this month, adding even more fuel to the fire.

Salah has since poured cold water on the speculation, suggesting that his relationship with Klopp is nothing out of the ordinary.

“It is a normal relationship between two professionals, it’s how I can explain it,” he said.

Liverpool will be counting on Salah to fire the club into the Champions League semi-finals next month as they entertain Real Madrid over two legs for a place in the competition’s last four.

Los Blancos prevented the Reds from claiming the top prize in 2018, beating Klopp’s side at the final hurdle in a match that Salah was unable to finish after an early tangle with Sergio Ramos.

Despite the events of three years ago, the Egypt international stressed that revenge is not a motive ahead of their next meeting, claiming that there is no ill will towards the Real skipper from his end.

“That game is over, so I don’t think about that,” added Salah. “I think about the team, everyone thinks about their team and everyone wants to win, that’s it.

“Between then and now we have won the Premier and the Champions League. We are champions. That is changing a lot.”

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Liverpool maintain Mohamed Salah transfer stance as Kylian Mbappe priority comes to light

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Liverpool are reportedly confident Mohamed Salah will stay at the club ahead of the summer transfer window, amid speculation linking the Egyptian star with a move to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, there’s an update on Kylian Mbappe’s future, and Thomas Muller has suggested he could follow in Thiago Alcantara’s footsteps, as Express Sport brings you the latest transfer news on Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah stance

Liverpool remain convinced that Mohamed Salah won’t be leaving Anfield any time soon.

Salah has frequently been linked with interest from Real Madrid, and transfer speculation was ramped up earlier this season when former Egypt striker Mohamed Aboutrika claimed his compatriot was not happy at the club.

But the Premier League club are confident Salah will see out his contract, which expires in 2023 – and are optimistic he will stay longer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

“Liverpool are convinced that they can keep Mohamed Salah,” Romano wrote in his column for Benchwarmers.

“Soon they will have to talk about his contract expiring in June 2023, but there is no problem with the club.”

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Mbappe priority amid Reds transfer talk

One player Liverpool have freuquently been linked with in recent times is PSG star Kylian Mbappe.

The 22-year-old World Cup winner has long been expected to join Real Madrid if and when he leaves the Parc des Princes.

But he has also spoken of his admiration for Liverpool – and the feeling is mutual, with Klopp a confirmed fan of the forward.

However, Mbappe has not held talks with the Reds, despite rumours to the contrary.

That’s again according to Romano, who said Mbappe’s current focus is on extending his Paris-Saint Germain contract, which is due to expire at the end of next season.

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“Kylian Mbappe has not started any negotiations with Liverpool so far despite the rumours,” wrote Romanon in his Benchwarmers column.

“To date, the priority is to negotiate with Paris Saint-Germain for the renewal of his contract.”

Muller hints at following in Thiago’s footsteps

Thomas Muller has suggested he could follow in the footsteps of Thiago Alcantara, who joined Liverpool last summer.

Muller broke into Bayern Munich’s first team in 2008, and has become synonymous with Bundesliga giants’ success ever since.

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Opposition player warns he will “deal with” Mohamed Salah on international duty

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Kenya defender Joash Onyango has insisted he is not worried about the threat of Mohamed Salah ahead of his nation’s upcoming game against Egypt.

The two countries take each other on in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday, with Egypt currently top of Group G and Kenya lying in third place.

Salah has had another superb individual season for Liverpool[1] despite the Reds’ struggles, scoring 17 goals in the Premier League[2], and is widely considered one of the most dangerous attacking players in world football.

But Onyango seems confident that he and his teammates will be able to deal with the star during their encounter in Kasarani.

Mohamed Salah has been training with Egypt this week
Mohamed Salah has been training with Egypt this week

Speaking to Goal[3], he said: “We all know they have arrived with their big-name players, and we all know what Salah can do, he is a good player and we have seen him win matches for Liverpool, but it will be a different ball game, I will deal with him.

“I like to cherish such opportunities because they give me the chance to gauge my level if I am improving or I am still where I am, so I will keep Salah in check, not only Salah but any player Egypt will use to attack us, we will deal with them.”

Salah’s future has been the subject of speculation recently, with some reports claiming he could seek to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Liverpool fans will be desperately hoping Salah comes back from the international break unscathed
Liverpool fans will be desperately hoping Salah comes back from the international break unscathed

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‘what’s next

Signing up is easy, just click this link[4] and select ‘Boxing’ from the list.

For now, however, the 28-year-old will simply be focusing on international matters, and Reds fans will be desperate he avoids injury while he is away.

They have some huge games coming up after the international break, with Arsenal[5] their opponents in the Premier League on April 3 before the first leg of their mouthwatering Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid[6] three days later on April 6.

References

  1. ^ Liverpool (www.mirror.co.uk)
  2. ^ Premier League (www.mirror.co.uk)
  3. ^ Goal (www.goal.com)
  4. ^ click this link (www.mirror.co.uk)
  5. ^ Arsenal (www.mirror.co.uk)
  6. ^ Real Madrid (www.mirror.co.uk)

[email protected] (Alex Milne)

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Jurgen Klopp makes confident Mohamed Salah transfer vow as Liverpool top-four hopes fade

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is confident Mohamed Salah will not leave in the summer transfer window – even if they miss out on Champions League football. The Reds have been shocking this calendar year as their Premier League title defence fell apart.
The Liverpool boss made the assertion in light of their fifth home defeat in a row – a feat has never happened before in the history of the club.

Salah was hauled off after an hour against Chelsea despite the Reds desperately needing a goal.

And the Egypt international was less than pleased with Klopp’s decision, having a tantrum as his agent cryptically tweeted elsewhere.

Speculation has been mounting over the past few months that the former Roma star has his sights set on leaving the club.

Following Thursday night’s incident, those rumours have only increased but Klopp has insisted Liverpool’s top goalscorer is going nowhere.

With Liverpool sitting seventh in the Premier League, missing out on the Champions League is now a very realistic scenario.

But Klopp insisted his players have a deep loyalty to the club.

He said: “That is nothing we have to worry about. It was always like this. I know we have loyalty from the players.

“It is not a situation where a player in the squad says we are not in the Champions League so I have to leave. That will not happen. I know them well enough to know that.”

Salah has not spoken since coming off against Chelsea but Klopp addressed the situation, insisting he was keeping the 28-year-old fresh for future games.

The German said: “I just brought on fresh legs. Mo [Salah] looked like today he suffered a bit, he played a lot of games.

“I could have taken off Sadio or Bobby, that is all clear but at that moment it looked like Mo.

“Milner we bought on to wake them up a bit and keep them in the game because we needed one situation.”

“In that moment he looked like he felt the intensity tonight and I didn’t want to risk it. It is all fine, I make decisions that I think are right in the moment.”

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp issues Mohamed Salah statement after cryptic tweet from agent

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Mohamed Salah’s agent sparked a frenzy among Liverpool fans on Thursday night after posting a cryptic tweet around the time his client was substituted against Chelsea, but Jurgen Klopp doesn’t think it’s necessary for a “proper talk” just yet. Liverpool were struggling to find a way to break down Chelsea’s defence having gone down 1-0 in the opening 45 minutes.
They looked more sharp in the second half, but Klopp’s side were still unable to trouble Edouard Mendy on too many occasions.

Klopp took the surprise decision to hook Salah off on the hour mark for Diogo Jota, with the Egypt international visibly frustrated at being taken off.

He continually shook his head in disbelief as he made his way to the bench and Salah’s agent then took to social media with a very cryptic tweet which sparked further anger among supporters.

Klopp played down the severity of the substitution immediately after the game and he still believes it’s being blown out of proportion.

When asked how he plans to ensure there is no ‘lasting problem’, Klopp said: “Talking, that’s how it always is.

“I’m not even sure if this situation is now a reason for a ‘proper talk’ about it.

“We are 1-0 down and that makes no player happy when you go off [because] you cannot react how you react in different ways.

“On top of that, you’re a striker, you think you should stay on the pitch. It’s all completely clear and not an issue, just normal life.”

Despite Liverpool’s recent troubles, Salah remains the top scorer in the Premier League with 17 goals.

Liverpool as a whole had been scoring for fun up until the end of December and were the league’s top scoring team.

But the goals have dried up since then with Liverpool going on a torrid run of form since the 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace.

They’ve won just three of the 13 league games since that win and have lost five consecutive home matches.

Salah has only found the net on four occasions in that time, but Klopp insists everyone in the team needs to step up and rise to the challenge.

“We all have to improve, definitely,” he added.

“We only lose games when you have more potential than the results show then it’s all about performance.

“Mo has still a great goalscoring record but everybody knows and even he knows- himself that even he could have scored more goals but Mo’s scoring record is not our problem.”

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Ex-Liverpool star Owen offers ‘wild theory’ on why Mane didn’t want to win penalty for Salah against Chelsea

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Former Liverpool and England star Michael Owen has suggested that current Reds forward Sadio Mane is not taking the opportunity to win penalties purely to deprive teammate Mo Salah of the chance to add to his goal tally.

A disgruntled Salah was hauled off in the second half of Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Anfield on Thursday night – a record fifth straight home defeat for the Reds.

Earlier in the evening Salah’s strike partner Mane appeared to have an opportunity to go to ground in the box after Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen left his leg dangling dangerously in front of the Senegalese star.  

Instead of taking the opportunity to ask a question of referee Martin Atkinson, Sane flicked the ball onwards and continued to the line, before Liverpool were forced away from the Chelsea penalty area and the attack broke down.

Speaking on Optus Sport, former Liverpool ace Owen claimed that Mane may have been reluctant to win a spot-kick for his team because he knew it would give Salah a chance to add his goals tally as the Reds designated penalty-taker.

“There was an occasion in the first half where every single Liverpool fan in the world probably thought ‘penalty!’ I couldn’t believe (Mane) didn’t go down,” Owen said.

“I’m not advocating he does, (but) normally you see attacking players (go down)… I just wonder whether he is thinking, ‘hang on a minute, I’m going to (try and) score, because if I don’t stand on my feet Mo Salah is going to get another penalty’.

“We all know how competitive attacking players are. We all know how selfish, in a way, strikers are. These players have been going for the Golden Boot the last couple of seasons.

“I just wonder, I might be far off the mark, whether if he was dancing around a player thinking he could get a shot off, if he is thinking ‘this is my opportunity to score’.

“The competitive nature between him and Mo Salah. It might be a wild theory, but we’ve seen them not passing to each other when one is in a perfectly better position than the other, and it just makes me wonder.

“We are talking about selfishness and (being) a little bit disgruntled, we’ve seen Salah shaking his head (when substituted), we know how much they want to win the Golden Boot, I just think a couple times there I’ve seen Sadio Mane go down there.”

Chelsea claimed a deserved victory thanks to Mason Mount’s superb 42nd-minute strike, as the Blues extended their unbeaten run under new boss Thomas Tuchel to 10 matches.

The London club stand fourth in the Premier League table on 47 points, four ahead of defending champions Liverpool who are down in seventh.  
Also on rt.com Tuchel makes it 10: Chelsea’s run goes on as Premier League champions Liverpool lose five in a row at home for the first time ever
The decision by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to hook Salah off in the 62nd minute with Liverpool chasing the game led to questions over the German’s in-game management. 

Salah is his team’s top-scorer this season with 17 goals in 26 Premier League games. Mane, meanwhile, has seven goals in his 24 league games this campaign. 

Former Liverpool skipper Jamie Carragher described the decision to sub Salah as “strange.”

“I must say, I could not believe Salah came off,” Carragher said afterwards.

“Liverpool were desperate for a goal, to take your top goal scorer off was a strange one. Klopp’s never been shy of taking Salah off the pitch, so it’s not a case of he’s worried about taking his main player off and he’s taken him off in certain situations where Salah has been poor…

“He certainly wasn’t at his best today, but it wasn’t one of those games I’ve seen Mo Salah have when he can lose possession, he just didn’t have much of the ball.

“You’ve got to remember: Salah’s not a great player with the ball, as such, he’s probably better off the ball – making runs and scoring goals. What Salah is for me is a great goal scorer.”

The 28-year-old Egyptian star’s agent added fuel to the fire with a cryptic tweet shortly after Salah had been hauled off, simply posting a full-stop.

Klopp later tried to play down the row, claiming that Salah “liked like he felt the intensity” of the game.  

“The reason for the sub was I could have changed other players as well but the reason was he looked like he felt the intensity and I didn’t want to risk him.

“That’s all. It’s really rare and usually Mo looks surprisingly fresh until the end. I thought he didn’t look fresh anymore. The last two or three years have nothing to do with that.”

Thursday’s loss was the latest blow for Liverpool in what is unraveling into a disastrous title defence.

Klopp’s men are a full 22 points behind league leaders Manchester City, with the German already conceding that Liverpool face a scrap simply to ensure Champions League football next season.

Next up for Liverpool are relegation-threatened Fulham at Anfield on Sunday. Chelsea host fellow top-four contenders Everton at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.  

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