Klopp Responds To Wrong Statements Speculating A Move To Barca Or Madrid

Mo Salah (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has dismissed speculation about Mohamed Salah's future by saying the Egyptian is happy to play with the Premier League champions.

Salah in an interview in Spain last week said Barcelona and Real Madrid were the two main clubs and "who knows what happens next."

That has led to speculation whether he is looking for a long-term contract after 2023 or he is disappointed that Trent Alexander-Arnold was given the captain's armband for the Champions League group stage match against Midtjylland.

"We are not talking about an agreement, not with you (the media). Why should we start now?" Klopp said at his pre-match press conference against West Brom.

"Mo is in a good mood, always a good moment. He's in really good shape and that's the most important thing for me. We don't have any photos (from the training ground) this morning but if you guys have seen him laughing, he's enjoying. that session. "

If Salah is upset then it is not reflected in his performance on the field this season. He has scored 13 league goals and missed one match due to COVID-19 isolation.

It was his best start in the Premier League, even better than his debut when he scored 32 goals in 38 appearances after scoring 12 goals in 14 early games. Coming off the bench, Salah scored two last-minute goals to send Liverpool destroying Crystal Palace 7-0 last Saturday.

"I think there are the following things to talk about: he didn't play at the start of his last game, all the things I heard about what could be an excuse, and then he quit and scored two goals," said Klopp.

"I think in his first season he didn't start against Stoke, came on and scored two goals. He certainly didn't take long."

Klopp hopes his players are able to maintain the advantage over their rivals, currently they are four points ahead of Leicester. The Reds will face a busy schedule over the holiday week with home games against Newcastle next Wednesday and Southamption the following Monday.

"Now it's more important for us to keep going. Everyone knows the toughest point of the season is ahead of us. The Christmas period is always tough so we have to make sure we get through with the right results."