Jurgen Klopp was unconcerned by Mohamed Salah’s disappointing performance against Chelsea, refuting the suggestion the Egypt winger is suffering burnout.
Salah has enjoyed a remarkable season, scoring 43 goals in all competitions and winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, but he failed to shine against his former club on Sunday as Olivier Giroud’s goal secured the points for Antonio Conte’s side.
However, Klopp, whose team booked a place in the Champions League final on Wednesday, claimed it was not unexpected that the former Roma forward could have an off-day.
“It’s completely normal for attacking players to be like this,” Klopp told BBC Sport after a result that leaves his side just three points clear of the fifth-place Blues.
“Normally he can deal with the very physical teams, but today he didn’t do so well.”
Salah was involved in the thick of the action shortly after Chelsea went ahead, receiving a booking for simulation on the edge of the box, and Klopp offered no excuses.
“It was a dive, or he was looking for the contact and that is not right, he can do much better,” Klopp said.
39: Mohamed Salah goes down on the edge of the Chelsea box, but no free-kick is given. Salah is booked.
[1-0]#CHELIV pic.twitter.com/RrHXBvNbOo
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 6, 2018
“He will score again but there was no space today. That is it, all good.
“We don’t have a big squad and we had injury problems, so when the boys come back [they] don’t have rhythm.
“We have 11 or 12 players that have been playing constantly, so now we have one full week [before the next game] and that helps massively.”
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