Jurgen Klopp says that Mohamed Salah wasn’t happy not to be included in the starting line-up for Liverpool last night.
During his pre-Manchester City press conference today, the Liverpool boss was questioned as to why Salah was only on the bench against Benfica.
Klopp said the decision was purely based on giving the Egyptian as rest.
“The reason for Mo not starting is easy,” said Klopp via Liverpool FC on Youtube. “It was about, yes, he played (against) City, but we have after that hopefully 12 games. Even if Mo would’ve scored four goals in the last game he wouldn’t have started yesterday.
“Mo played in January and February six times 120 minutes, now we can just close our eyes and say who cares?”
Klopp said that although Mo ‘hates’ being left on the bench, or brought off during a game, sometimes it’s necessary.
“Even he is just a human being. That’s why it was clear there’ll be games he can’t start, games where we have to take him off. He hates that, that’s clear. But we have to think about these kind of things when they are really necessary to do,” said the boss.
We hear you loud and clear, Jurgen. Salah has looked in need of a rest for some time. Last night was a good opportunity to allow him to take a breather.
Managing Mo for the rest of the season
Clearly Salah has had a heavier workload than most players over this campaign. As Klopp referred to, he has played 120 minutes and astonishing six times since January 26th.
All four of Egypt’s AFCON knockout games went the full distance, ending in a heart-breaking defeat to Senegal on penalties.
Had Salah have tasted glory with his country, maybe those minutes wouldn’t feel so heavy in his legs. As it was, defeat was compounded by another penalty shootout loss against Senegal to deny his country qualification to the World Cup in Qatar.
The final of the six mammoth games did end in Salah lifting the Carabao Cup with Liverpool in February. However, the responsibility he carries for Egypt as their star man likely outweighs the trophy he lifted with The Reds.
Liverpool will need his mercurial talents to return as they attempt to do the impossible and win four trophies over the coming weeks.
Whether Mo likes it or not, that means he’ll have to sit out a few big games between now and the end of the season.
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