The touchline row between Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah during Liverpool’s draw with West Ham on Saturday was caused by the winger snubbing his manager’s handshake, according to reports.
Salah started the match on the bench and was not called to be brought on until the last 15 minutes of the game, along with Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez.
The Egyptian appeared to be angry with his manager, with the pair exchanging heated words and Nunez even pushing his teammate away from his boss on the touchline.
While it was unclear at the time what the problem was, fan footage suggested that it was a somewhat cold interaction between the two before Salah went on the pitch.
Klopp put out his hand which Salah either refused or did not notice and then only offered his manager a fist bump, which led to the heated exchange.
The German then gave a warm handshake and embrace to Nunez and Gomez, which appeared to be what he was expecting from Salah.
The Sun reports Salah was annoyed with being left out of the starting XI and his lack of interaction before going on annoyed his manager.
Speaking after the game, Klopp said: ‘We spoke about it in the dressing room, but it’s done for me. That’s it.’
Asked if Salah was okay with the situation, Klopp added: ‘That was my impression, yes.’
However, Salah passed journalists after the game and refused to give an interview, saying: ‘There’s going to be fire today if I speak.’
The Sun’s report states that players were given a ‘couple of days off’ and will meet up again on Tuesday, by which time it is hoped that all tempers have cooled.
Klopp is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and recent results have ended their hopes of sending him off with a Premier League title in his final season.
Results over the weekend have left Arsenal top of the table, one point clear of Manchester City although the champions have a game in hand on the Gunners.
The Reds are now five points off the pace and have played as many matches as Arsenal, with three more games to come.
MORE : Alan Shearer accuses Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp of ‘riling up’ Mohamed Salah before West Ham row
MORE : New camera angle of Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah bust-up appears to reveal cause of row
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