Jurgen Klopp said he did not fear Mohamed Salah's recent comments about Liverpool's failure to play Champions League football next season was an indication he wanted out of the club.
Salah said he was “devastated” at Liverpool missing out on Champions League qualification following Manchester United's win over Chelsea on Thursday, adding there was “absolutely no excuse” for the Reds finishing in the Premier League’s top four.
Asked whether he was concerned about Salah’s immediate future after his rare public statement, Klopp said: “No worries, no. I only heard what he said but I couldn’t read anything that could lead in that direction.
“Obviously Mo loves being here and Mo was part of it. He said apologies for what ‘we’ did – not apologies for ‘what the other guys did, but I had to go with them’. It is all fine."
Liverpool made Egyptian forward Salah the highest-paid player in the club's history last summer, with the 30-year-old committing his future on Merseyside until June 2025.
Signed from Roma in 2017, Salah has played Champions League football in each of his six seasons at Liverpool but will have to settle for the Europa League next term after finishing the Premier league season in fifth, even before Sunday's final game against Southampton. Salah has contributed 19 goals and 11 assists.
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Mohamed Salah has signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool. Here 'The National' looks back at a season full of Premier League goals for the Egyptian superstar. Getty Images -
1. Mohamed Salah's first goal of the season came in Liverpool's first game of the season, a 3-0 victory at newly promoted Norwich City on August 14. Reuters -
2. Salah's second goal came on August 28, in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Reuters -
3. No 3 of the season was at Leeds United, where Liverpool won 3-0. EPA -
4. Another for Salah in the Premier League in the 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on September 18. AFP -
5. A thrilling 3-3 draw at Brentford on September 25 saw Salah claim another goal. AFP -
6. A goal that will be talked about for years to come: Salah scores a wonderful strike in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on October 3. EPA -
7. The international break did nothing to slow Salah's form, as he danced around Watford's bewildered defence to score in the 5-0 win at Vicarage Road. Reuters -
11. After three games without a goal, Salah is back on the scoresheet in the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal in the Premier League on November 20. EPA -
12. Another to delight the Liverpool fans as Salah scores his side's second goal during the 4-1 Merseyside derby win at Everton on December 1. AP -
13. His next came in the same match at Goodison Park. EPA -
14. The only goal of the game in the 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on December 11. EPA -
15. Liverpool keep the momentum going with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield, with Salah netting the second, on December 16. Reuters -
16. Salah celebrates another goal in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea on January 2. AP -
17. Salah scores the second goal in the 3-1 win against Norwich on February 19. PA -
18. Mohamed Salah scores in the 6-0 win against Leeds on February 23. PA -
19. Salah after scoring his second goal of the game against Leeds. AP -
20. Another stunning season for Mohamed Salah as he notches Premier League goal No 20 in the 2-0 win at Brighton on March 12. PA -
21. Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their fourth goal in the 4-0 win against Manchester United on April 19. Reuters -
22. Salah celebrates the second goal in 3-1 win against Wolves on May 22. Getty
Klopp said failure to qualify for the Champions League has not promoted Salah to ask for a move away, and that if he – or any player – did so he would "drive him to the other club myself".
“I would take the key, [and say] ‘come in the car, where do you want to go, I drive you’.
“It is not the case with Mo, not at all, and nobody else told me. They ask if they can have a longer holiday or whatever – but nobody asks me if after the holiday they have to come back.
“So that was not in our conversation.
“I saw him now in the canteen and he was smiling. I don’t know for which reason as I didn’t ask him, but he is not in a bad mood. That’s it.
“We didn’t point fingers at each other. That’s all good. If you don’t qualify for the Champions League, the best place you can possibly end up is fifth, so that’s what we did.”
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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores the winner against Fulham from the penalty spot in the Premier League game at Anfield on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. AP -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah beats Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from the penalty spot for the winner. PA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the first goal with teammates. PA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah score his side's winning goal. AP -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the opener. AP -
Liverpool keeper Alisson saves a shot from Fulham's Carlos Vinicius. AP -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp talks to the fourth official. PA -
Ibrahim Konata of Liverpool and Sasa Lukic of Fulham tangle. EPA -
Willian of Fulham is tackled by Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool. Getty -
Fulham’s Cedric Soares controls the ball. PA -
Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo attempts a block as Liverpool's Darwin Nunez shoots. PA -
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool controls the ball under pressure from Tom Cairney of Fulham. Getty
With no Champions League football on offer, Klopp hopes that potential signings will not be put off moving to Anfield.
“I don’t think so but we will see. That is obviously possible, it’s always possible things don’t go as quick as you want. It’s not only possible, it is probably likely," said the German.
“The better the players you want the lesser is the desire of the other club to let him go and that’s exactly what we are prepared for.
“But it’s a long window and a long pre-season and a long break in-between so we have time. If we get in players tomorrow or in six or seven weeks it is not a game-changer for me to be honest.
“In an ideal world they all sign tomorrow and I can tell them when to be here and we can start giving them the plans for the summer break but that will not likely happen.”
