Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was once ‘disrespectful’ to one of his teammates – and the Reds’ players were not happy.
Salah, 32, has made a significant impact at Anfield, scoring 219 goals and helping the Reds secure several trophies, including the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League title. His success has coincided with Jurgen Klopp’s management, who brought him to Liverpool from Roma in 2017.
While Salah is often viewed as a family-oriented and professional figure, admired by young footballers globally, he stirred some controversy in December 2020 during an interview with Spanish outlet AS. When asked various questions, Salah expressed disappointment over not being named captain for a Champions League match against Midtjylland, where Klopp fielded a heavily rotated squad. Despite Salah scoring in the first minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold, then 22, captained the team, which upset Salah.
“Honestly, I was very disappointed,” Salah admitted. “I was hoping to be the captain, but it’s a coach’s decision. I accept it.” Additionally, Salah’s praise for Real Madrid and Barcelona during the interview was interpreted as an effort to appeal to Spanish fans, leading some in the Liverpool dressing room to feel his remarks disrespected Alexander-Arnold.
The interview was released just before Liverpool’s match against Crystal Palace, where Salah was benched, which some players interpreted as Klopp asserting his authority over the forward. Reports suggest that Klopp’s relationship with Salah shifted following the player’s comments, with some staff believing Salah didn’t appreciate Klopp’s “father figure” approach, feeling a manager should not have to help him grow personally.
Their most recent public disagreement occurred during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at West Ham in April 2024, when Salah and Klopp were seen having a tense exchange before Salah was substituted for Luis Diaz in the 79th minute. After the match, Salah told reporters, “If I speak, there will be fire,” to which a reporter responded, “Fire?” Salah confirmed, “Yes, of course.” However, Klopp later claimed that any tension had been resolved after a discussion in the dressing room.
Ultimately, these moments may become mere footnotes in the narrative of Klopp and Salah’s time together at the club. Fans are likely to remember the goals and trophies they achieved together rather than their occasional disagreements.
