Mohamed Salah was subbed off by Jurgen Klopp just an hour into Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United, despite the Reds boss claiming that the forward is back to full fitness
Mohamed Salah couldn’t hide his frustration after being subbed off despite Liverpool needing a goal against Sheffield United.
Salah, 31, was hooked just after an own goal from Conor Bradley made it 1-1 two minutes before the hour mark, with Darwin Nunez having given Liverpool an early lead in the first half on Thursday. With the Anfield crowd in disbelief, the Egyptian forward looked miserable as he jogged off after his number was raised, with team-mate Harvey Elliott coming on to replace him.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp held out his hand for Salah, who didn’t even look at his manager but did oblige.
” Mo Salah went into the technical area and had a half handshake with the manager – he was not happy,” former Premier League striker Dion Dublin explained on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Ryan Gravenberch was also subbed off in place of Andy Robertson, with Liverpool needing a goal to return to top of the Premier League table after Arsenal’s comfortable 2-0 win at home to Luton on Wednesday, while Manchester City smashed Aston Villa 4-1. Nunez had got the Reds off to the perfect start on 17 minutes but it was fortunate goal.
Sheffield United goalkeeper Ivo Grbic dawdled with the ball on the edge of his own box and the Liverpool striker charged down his attempted kick up the pitch. The ball then flew back behind Grbic and into the net.
The Blades got their own slice of luck early in the second half, though, with Gustavo Hamer’s header back across goal deflecting off right-back Bradley and finding its way past Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to leave the home fans stunned. Liverpool suddenly found themselves desperate for a goal and it came with 13 minutes of normal time remaining.
Roberton’s cross was only half cleared by Sheffield United’s defence and the ball fell to Alexis Mac Allister, and he unleashed a thunderous strike which flew past Grbic, who had no chance with that one. “Liverpool have drove forward and the fans are thinking to themselves they have got to help them over the line,” Dublin added. “Alexis Mac Allister, laces, top corner – thank you very much.”
Anfield erupted again when Cody Gakpo made it 3-1, as Liverpool restored their two-goal lead at the top – without needing Salah.
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The Kop’s Egyptian king is fully fit, though, with Klopp saying after the 31-year-old scored the winner in their 2-1 victory over Brighton on Sunday: “Playing-wise, absolutely.
“Imagine if Mo would have finished off all the situations in his career, that would have been crazy numbers, so it’s absolutely fine. But then being that calm in the decisive moment when you have to finish the biggest chance we had, it was the best football situation we played, that then makes a real goalscorer so I’m absolutely happy with everything. He could play 90-something minutes and now we just have to keep going.”
It wasn’t even 90 on Thursday, though.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
