Klopp unhappy with lack of protection for Salah
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is none too pleased with referee Andre Marriner's treatment of star man Mohamed Salah, alleging that Salah was not given the kind of protection he deserved throughout Saturday's 0-0 draw against Stoke City at Anfield.
Klopp chose not to shake the hands of one of the two linesmen after the final whistle for what may have been a missed handball late in the match, and seemed quite upset as he spoke to reporters. Salah suffered just two fouls against him over 90 minutes against the Potters, but it was the countless pushes, shoves, and holds that drew the brunt of Klopp's ire.
"He is used to that," Klopp said of Salah's physical treatment, according to ESPN FC's Glenn Price.
"How can you think so far he was not physically attacked? There are rules. It has nothing to do with how you play. Mo Salah is probably the most attacked player in the Premier League, so he always has to deal with that. He doesn't have to learn.
"I'm not responsible for judging the rules, that's the ref. If he still thinks that's still OK and still wants to set that level, I cannot change it.
"Whatever I say causes us only problems. Whatever you think, write it again. Don't make the stories with what I say. If I say he is too harshly attacked then imagine the nice headlines you make.
"There is not a grey area. It's football, it's physical - no problem with that. For all the boys, they are used to that. If it's too much - free kick, red card, yellow card. There are a lot of things that you can do. I cannot change that."
Salah sits one shy of the 38-match Premier League single-season scoring record (32). Saturday was the first time since Boxing Day that he failed to find the back of the net as a starter in a home league fixture.
The Egyptian winger has another opportunity to reach that record mark when Liverpool takes on Chelsea next Sunday.