Liverpool s German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on August 13, 2023. AFP
With the score level at 1-1 and 15 minutes remaining, the Reds manager decided to replace both Salah and Luis Diaz with Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak. Salah did not take the decision well, seen ripping off his wrist tape and throwing it to the ground as he stormed off without acknowledging Klopp.
When asked about Salah's reaction after the match, Klopp told Sky Sports: "I can understand because if Mo scored it would have been a new record for goals scored in the opening game but I didn’t think about that. We needed stability and we needed fresh legs. It was super intense for everybody."
Klopp maintained the substitution was within reason, adding: "That’s all I can say about it, his reaction was absolutely okay. When I sub a player and he is jumping into my arms at 1-1 and he is a striker who thinks he will score, I would be really surprised so that’s absolutely fine."
Salah was understandably disappointed to be taken off, as he was looking to score on the opening weekend of the Premier League season for a seventh consecutive season. The 31-year-old has a joint-record eight opening day goals in the Premier League, alongside Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard and would have gone clear if he found the net against Chelsea.
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