The aftermath of Mohamed Salah's heated touchline row with Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool's disappointing 2-2 draw with West Ham continues, with fans and pundits wondering what sparked this issue.
The Egyptian ace, who was benched for this fixture after a string of poor performances, was subbed on in the second half with only 11 minutes of normal time left. However, just as he was about to make his entrance, the attacker was caught arguing with the manager on the touchline.
Klopp was quizzed about the issue after full-time but remained tight-lipped, only revealing that the pair discussed matters in the dressing room and that he has closed the book on this chapter. However, the Sun has offered insight into this clash.
According to the British tabloid, this confrontation stemmed from Mohamed Salah's refusal to shake hands with the manager shortly before being substituted on. The pair eventually exchanged fist bumps but this did not solve the issue.
"This has happened occasionally with Jurgen and other players," a source is quoted as saying.
"He is very big on interaction with his subs before they go on and felt it didn't happen at first with Mo.
"Mo was obviously annoyed at being left out of the team and wasn't in the best of moods while Jurgen wasn't happy with his behavior."
However, one thing still remains a mystery: what Klopp whispered in Salah's ear prior to the blow-up. The winger reacted angrily to what the German manager had said, leading some to take Mohamed's side in this dispute.
The Liverpool superstar snubbed Klopp once again following the full-time whistle, shaking hands with West Ham boss David Moyes but failing to do so with his own manager. Additionally, the player added fuel to the fire with his response to the confrontation, saying "There's going to be fire today if I speak" as he walked through the mixed zone.
Interestingly, Salah, who the Saudi Pro League wants, is entering the final year of his Anfield contract and is subject to speculation surrounding his future. With Klopp leaving at the end of the season, many key Liverpool players might contemplate leaving and it remains to be seen what role this latest incident could play in the attacker's decision.
