"Where's the respect?" - Pundit picks clear side in heated Liverpool row involving Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah
Football pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has slammed Jurgen Klopp for his treatment of Mohamed Salah in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against West Ham United on Saturday (27 April).
The Reds dropped more points in this season's title race at the London Stadium this weekend. Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio netted once each for the Hammers, while Andrew Robertson scored for Liverpool, and West Ham's Alphonse Areola scored an own goal.
Klopp benched Salah for the fixture after the Egyptian's underwhelming display against Everton during the week. The 31-year-old winger had an altercation with the manager when he was preparing to come on in the 79th minute.
The pair could be seen arguing on the touchline before Salah's substitution. Offering his two cents on the matter, Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT after the game:
"It think it's been coming from Salah. Salah's not a sub. You can put Salah on the bench if you are rotating. But Salah has scored 210 goals and has 86 assists for Liverpool. A game against West Ham is tough, you don't give him 12 minutes. That's what he was probably saying on the sideline. '12 minutes, come on, I'm Salah, you wouldn't have a trophy without me, Jurgen'."
He added:
"They wouldn't have won any trophies without Salah. He's been unbelievable for that football club. Where's the respect?
The Merseysdiers will next face Tottenham Hotspur on 5 May.
Agbonlahor says Jurgen Klopp is 'causing problems' by 'upsetting players' after row with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah
Agbonlahor feels Jurgen Klopp is causing a stir in the dressing room and upsetting the players after what he reckons was disrespecting Mohamed Salah.
The German manager is set to leave the club this summer, with Feyenoord manager Arne Slot reportedly preparing to take over. Salah's future at Anfield remains uncertain, with the potential of strong interest from Saudi Arabia resurfacing in the summer when he'll be on the last 12 months of his contract.
Agbonlahor has cast doubt over whether such an altercation could influence the Egypt international to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. The former Aston Villa man said:
"Klopp is causing problems now for Liverpool's squad next season [by] upsetting players. There is talk of Salah leaving. Could this affect Salah now?
"You need to win a game in a title challenge, and you are giving your star player 12 minutes, so you can't blame him on the sideline. I think Klopp's got that wrong, disrespecting Salah."
Salah has racked up 24 goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Merseysiders this season.