‘I understand if he’s got the hump’ – Alan Shearer reveals why he backs Mo Salah in touchline row with Jurgen Kopp
ALAN SHEARER has said he “understands” Mohamed Salah’s position following the Egyptian’s touchline spat with manager Jurgen Klopp.
Salah and Klopp were involved in a heated row during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday.
Salah, who was benched from the off for the Hammers clash, seemed unhappy with the Reds boss when he was preparing to be subbed on in the 79th minute with the scores tied at 2-2.
Klopp appeared to exchange words with Salah right before he entered the pitch, prompting the winger to gesture at his manager with waving arms while chirping back at the German.
And despite a lot of fans siding with outgoing icon Klopp, Alan Shearer has shown some sympathy for Salah instead.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Shearer suggested that Salah has every right to be frustrated with his lack of minutes in recent weeks given the consistent output he has produced for Liverpool.
He said: “We don’t know what Klopp has said to him there. He’s said something that’s riled him.
“He’s obviously got the right hump with being left out and probably rightly so, even though hasn’t hit the heights that Mo Salah has done over the years. He’s been an unbelievable player.
“He ignores Jurgen [Klopp], he gives the Liverpool fans a little round of applause and goes straight down the tunnel.
“But we’re guessing as to what Jurgen said to him. I understand that if Mo has the right hump because the amount of times he’s been Liverpool’s superstar and their saviour.
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“He’s got 17 goals in 25 league starts. Anyone else you’d look at that and think ‘unbelievable’. It’s a shame it’s going to end like that because of what Klopp’s done and what Salah’s done.”
Salah has struggled for form in recent weeks scoring just one goal in his last six Premier League appearances as Liverpool have all but removed themselves from the title race with their poor results.
Salah‘s misfiring form has seen him benched by Klopp from the off in three of Liverpool’s eight games across all competitions in April.
But despite recent performances he is still Liverpool’s leading goal scorer this season.
The 31-year-old didn’t speak to the media after the 2-2 draw seemingly warning that his words would cause a stir if he was stop for an interview.
When asked to speak in the mixed zone following the match, he said: “There’s gonna be a fire today if I speak.”
Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL managerial target Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.