New Jurgen Klopp verdict on Mohamed Salah emerges in two-word warning for Liverpool

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has spoken about Mohamed Salah, who was not involved in the club’s victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday night

Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as “super special” with the Liverpool star’s future still uncertain. The 33-year-old was not included in the Reds’ matchday squad for their Champions League win over Inter Milan on Tuesday night.

Manager Arne Slot had confirmed before the game that Salah would not be involved following his controversial post-match comments at the weekend. The Liverpool talisman watched on as an unused substitute during the club’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United, having been benched for the third consecutive game.

In the aftermath, Salah claimed he felt “thrown under the bus” and unfairly blamed for the team’s poor form. The forward said that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated and hinted that this weekend’s game against Brighton could be his last for the club. Salah is set to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations before the January transfer window opens.

It is a dramatic shift from Salah being lauded for his 29 league goals as he fired Liverpool to a second Premier League title last season. His current tally stands at five goals in 19 appearances across all competitions. However, former Liverpool boss Klopp has explained why the Reds could regret potentially parting ways with Salah.

Speaking on a newly released BBC documentary, Mo Salah: Never Give up, Klopp said: “When I arrived, we had the players who were there but we were looking for wingers, for speed. If you have a player with speed, with technique, with finishing skills, with a nose for the goal, that makes him super special.”

READ MORE: Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk address Mo Salah ‘reality’ after apology questionREAD MORE: Mohamed Salah has spoken to Liverpool favourite over future as he suggests what happens next

Following his move from Roma in 2017, Salah made 349 appearances under Klopp, scoring 211 goals. He was an instrumental player for the German coach, helping guide the club to Champions League and Premier League glory.

However, Klopp and Salah did have a row towards the end of the manager’s tenure. The winger was named as a substitute away at West Ham in April 2024 and the pair argued on the touchline as he waited to come on, having seen the Hammers equalise.

“I wouldn’t say Mo is easy to manage, but he’s not difficult to manage,” Klopp said on the BBC documentary. “You have problems with Mo Salah if he’s not playing, you have problems with Mo Salah if you take him off.”

While Klopp could have predicted how Salah would have reacted to being dropped by Slot, he explained that Salah’s mindset is what separates him from his peers. The ex-Liverpool boss recalled that the Egypt international would report to pre-season training each summer with a new perfected skill after dedicating his downtime to improving his game.

“He knew early that he has to do more,” Klopp said. “That’s why Chelsea was maybe the most important club he had just to say, ‘Ok, I thought I am good enough but now they show me I’m not good enough, so I will go out train a bit harder and come back and then I’m good enough.'”

Klopp added: “He never stops. That’s his mindset and he will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.”

When asked about Salah after Liverpool’s win at Inter, Slot responded: “I think tonight it should be all about a team like this tonight, against a team like this who are winning and a stadium like this.

“The focus should be on that tonight. I can fully understand if I go into the press conference on Friday and all the questions are on Mo but I think these players deserve for it to be about them tonight.”

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