Star strikers Salah and Darwin Núñez were among the substitutes from kick-off in Liverpool’s away game against West Ham, to the surprise of many.
An own goal, in the wake of a poor Cody Gakpo finish, still looked set to salvage three Liverpool points at the London Stadium.
After 65 minutes, the ball Gakpo wanted to shoot went far beyond the goal but there. It first hit Angelo Ogbonna’s stomach, then ricocheted off both Tomás Soucek and Alphonse Areola before crossing the finish line.
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But with barely a quarter of an hour remaining, as manager Jürgen Klopp waited to replace the trio of Salah, Nûñez and Joe Gomez, Michail Antonio equalized for West Ham with a sparkling header.
The TV replays from the sidelines just then showed that Salah appeared very annoyed with Klopp. The Egyptian gesticulated violently with his hands, made some remarks in the direction of the manager and was tried to be calmed down by Nûñez.
– It did not seem to be normal and friendly between a player and a manager. There was finger-pointing and a heated exchange, noted Talksport commentator John Anderson with mild bemusement.
Criticism from Crouch
Former Liverpool profile Peter Crouch also spoke about the situation at TNT Sports.
– It didn’t look good. I don’t think this looks good for the club. Mo Salah is a player who has started most of the games for Liverpool, and he will probably be furious about sitting on the bench.
– But nobody likes to see this between a manager and a key player, says Crouch.
Salah was involved before Harvey Elliott hit the crossbar on Liverpool’s last chance of the match. However, there was no winning goal for the visitors, who now look more and more lost in the battle for the Premier League title.
– If I speak today, it will catch fire, said a concise Salah in the press zone after the match, according to Liverpool Echo.
Mo Salah in the post-match mixed zone: “If I speak today there will be fire.”
— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) April 27, 2024
Jürgen Klopp was also asked about the incident with Salah. TNT Sports asked if he could share what was said in the aforementioned seconds before the team’s top scorer entered the pitch at 2-2.
– No. But we’ve already talked about it in the dressing room. It’s finished, the German replied, before moving on to talk about the title game in the Premier League.
– I’m not in the mood to talk about it, to be honest. Or to look at it at all. We had to win here. We knew that, and we didn’t. And now we have a little more time between now and the next game. We try to get the guys ready again, and then we try again, said Klopp.
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Arsenal and Manchester City are respectively two and one points ahead of Liverpool in the table, and both have fewer games played.
For Liverpool there are now three rounds of the league season remaining, where Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton are the opponents.
Weak opening
It started as another tame game for Liverpool where they were 0-1 down at the halfway point.
Apart from a lively Luis Díaz, there were few in the away team’s crew who were able to cause unrest in West Ham’s back ranks. A quality precisely Núñez and Salah have often had as a characteristic.
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After the break, the Scouses nevertheless began to dominate from the first kick. And that without any changes being made from Klopp.
Several quick visits to the Hammers box were followed by the 1-1 goal, signed by Scottish Andrew Robertson. Diaz was responsible for the preparations out on the left.
Robertson’s first league goal since September provided Liverpool with an all-important vitamin injection. The left-back’s finish went through the hands of goalkeeper Areola and the post before bouncing over the goal line.
– It’s Andy Robertson, of all people. I suspect Areola is not going to be happy with it, but Jürgen Klopp is clapping his hands, noted commentator Anderson.
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Got behind
While Liverpool’s Elliott and Diaz abused the guests’ biggest chances in the first half, West Ham eventually linked a move with more scoring chances on the eve of the half.
It paid off when Jarrod Bowen rose to the air and nodded in 1-0, via the ground and the fingertips of Liverpool keeper Alisson.
– This is a goal that could be unimaginably devastating for Liverpool. It’s going to be quite a sight in that Liverpool dressing room, Anderson noted as the teams left the pitch after the first 45 minutes.
Klopp’s choice to drop both Salah and Núñez in the starting line-up was discussed thoroughly midway through the British radio broadcast from the match.
– I didn’t think so. You don’t drop Salah from the start, in my opinion, added pundit and former Premier League striker David Connolly.
The mentioned Salah exchange was therefore left to wait, much to the annoyance of Liverpool’s top scorer.