Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted he is not worried at this moment about any attempt by Saudi Arabian clubs to lure Mohamed Salah away from Merseyside in January.
Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad were reported to have put in a £150 million bid for the 31-year-old attacker that was turned down by Liverpool before the Premier League transfer window closed on September 1.
A second bid of around £200 million was expected before the SLP window closed six days later but failed to materialise.
But SPL director of football Michael Emenalo has made it clear that Salah remains a priority target. “If it didn't happen, it's not because we no longer fancy the player, or because we have a problem with Liverpool,” he told Sky Sports.
“It's because certain things that need to align for all the parties involved in the process didn't align.
“Nobody is angry, we move on, but we absolutely close no doors and if the opportunity is there to do things and do it well – and it brings Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League we will all be very grateful.”
In Friday's press conference ahead of Liverpool's game at Wolves, Klopp laughed off suggestions that he might be worried about any January bid for his Egyptian striker.
“You are kidding me, yeah?” said Klopp. “A week after we close the transfer window, you ask about the January transfer window?
“Obviously, you can't wait until December to ask these questions. We will see what happens. Until then, I'm not worried in this moment.
“I didn't even think about it until you opened that wound again. No, I'm not worried.”
Klopp also insisted there was no bad blood between him and former captain Jordan Henderson, who did leave for the kingdom this summer when he joined Al Ettifaq.
Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0: Player ratings
-
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 7: No saves to make in opening 45 minutes as Villa failed to register shot on target. Brilliant stop to keep out Cash’s header just after break. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 8: Some of his through-balls to teammates were magnificent when he tucked into midfield and one of those started move that led to Liverpool’s second goal. Limped off in second half which will be concern for Liverpool and England. PA -
Joel Matip 7: Should have headed Liverpool into 3-0 lead but sent header while completely free in the middle of the box wide of target. PA -
Joe Gomez 7: Made a right mess of controlling the ball in first half that saw him fall on his backside and free up Diaby who went on to set up chance that McGinn wasted. Solid apart from that. PA -
Andrew Robertson 7: Effectively becomes left of a back three when Alexander-Arnold pushes forwards which can leave defence short down left, although Villa failed to take any advantage of that here. His corner led to Salah’s goal. EPA -
Alexis Mac Allister 7: Pulled the strings in midfield, sensible with his distribution and barley wasted a pass all afternoon. PA -
Curtis Jones 7: First start of campaign and helped team take charge of midfield alongside Mac Allister. Pressed opposition really well with his efforts earning round of applause at one point in second half. AFP -
Dominik Szoboszlai 8: Scored first goal for the club in third minute when he thumped home into corner from 20 yards. Skipped past Digne with ease at start of second-half but teammates failed to capitalise on cross. Crowd appreciated his work rate when Villa in possession. Getty -
Mohamed Salah 8: Nice little touch to tee-up chance for Nunez who hit post leading to own goal. Saw shot from tight angle saved by Martinez just before break. Tapped home from close range to make it 3-0. Reuters -
Luis Diaz 7: Part of Liverpool’s attacking trio alongside Nunez and Salah who gave Villa’s defence little time to relax. Played his part without making the same impact as his two fellow forwards. Getty -
Darwin Nunez 8: Cracked post with shot that was turned into own net by Cash. Then hit bar with lovely dinked effort later in first half. Should have scored at start of second but poked header wide. Flicked header set-up Salah’s goal. PA -
SUBS: Diogo Jota (On for Diaz 65’) 6: No opportunity for Portuguese to add to Liverpool’s three goals. AFP -
Cody Gakpo (On for Nunes 65’) 6: Dutchman lost his place in starting XI to Nunes after Uruguayan’s double last week. No chance to stake his claim with team having taken foot off gas by time he came on. AP -
Harvey Elliott (On for Jones 65’) 6: Had one low shot deflected just wide of target. Reuters -
Jarell Quansah (On for Alexander-Arnold 71’) 6: Youngster, who made his debut Newcastle last week, came on here with the game won and team in cruise control. Getty -
Wataru Endo (On for Mac Allister 87’) N/A. AFP -
ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 6: Absolutely no chance with Szoboszlai’s fine early finish, the unfortunate Cash own goal or Salah’s tap in. A few regulation saves apart from that. AP -
Ezri Konsa 6: Showed great composure not to jump in on a twisting and turning Diaz before blocking the Colombian’s shot early on. Struggled with Liverpool’s pressing at times. AP -
Diego Carlos 6: An early injury blow for Villa when defender limped off in first 20 minutes. Brazilian’s debut season was a write-off due to injury so this will be last thing player or club need. AP -
Pau Torres 5: Sloppy and nervy in first half when his poor balls out from back went straight to Liverpool feet and put team back under pressure. Big-money signing from La Liga who has yet to adapt to the Premier League. AFP -
Lucas Digne 6: Skinned by Szoboszlai just after break when he dived in on Hungarian international and needed rescuing by teammates. Minutes later supplied perfect cross that almost saw Cash heading home. AFP -
Matty Cash 6: Scored twice last week but was very unlucky when he turned Nunez’s shot that crashed off the post into his own net. Thought he’d scored with close-range header that was saved pretty much on the line by Alisson. AP -
Boubacar Kamara 5: Booked shortly after second Liverpool goal for bundling over Diaz as home side threatened to run riot. Out-classed by Mac Allister and Jones in midfield. AP -
Douglas Luiz 6: Brazilian is so important to Villa but could not get grip of midfield battle in hugely disappointing team performance, especially considering it came on back of 4-0 and 3-1 Premier League wins. AFP -
John McGinn 5: Good chance to pull Villa back into game when 2-0 down but captain sent shot high and wide after being set-up by Diaby. Weak header straight at Alisson in second half. AFP -
Moussa Diaby 6: Summer signing has electric pace and caused Liverpool a few problems early on. Curled shot wide of target just before half-time. No impact after break as Villa disappeared as attacking threat. AP -
Ollie Watkins 5: Showed his frustration at Bailey when teammates got in each other’s way in first half, wasting a good Digne cross. Might have had valid argument on that occasion but offered little threat himself. EPA -
SUBS: Leon Bailey (On for Carlos 18’) 4: Early introduction after injury to Carlos and made little impact but was clearly furious when he walked off straight down tunnel after being hooked himself in second half. AP -
Nicolo Zaniolo (On for Bailey 65’) 6: Could not change game that Villa were always second best in. AP -
Youri Tielemans (On for Luiz 73’) 6: Villa were poor in midfield and will need the summer signing from Leicester City to play his part this campaign, but the match was already lost by the time he came on here. Getty -
Jhon Duran (On for Watkins 73’) 4: Shanked two awful shots wide of target in space of a couple of minutes much to frustration of teammates. AFP
In an interview during the international break Henderson, 33, claimed he did not feel wanted when he returned from his summer break and that is why he chose to join Steven Gerrard's side.
“Hendo said the truth, in all departments, that's how it was,” said the manager.
“We had our talks and I told Hendo I wanted him to stay but we had to talk in these conversations about the possibility of not playing regularly.
“I cannot have a talk before a season and tell a player they will have 50 games 100 per cent because I don't know that, it all depends on performance.
“And if Hendo had performed, he would have had maybe 50 games, absolutely possible.
“But in the specific situation, with the relationship we had, I thought it was important that we speak about everything because I don't want to wake up one morning and need to lock horns with each other because he thought he would start and I tell him he isn't.
“Obviously [for] Hendo that meant, 'OK, he doesn't want me here'. I understand it 100 per cent but we clarified that.
“If I would have told him 'Hendo, stay here, you will be the main man in midfield', he would have stayed but as much as I wanted him to stay, I couldn't say that so that's why it was better that Hendo moved on.
“There's not a bit of bad blood or whatever.”
Liverpool will head to Wolves on Saturday lunchtime without defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the win against Aston Villa a two weeks ago.
But centre-back Ibrahima Konate is fit again, which means Joe Gomez will be asked to fill in at right-back.
