Mohamed Salah did not try and hide his frustration when forced from the field, but Jurgen Klopp has downplayed the reaction as he explained his decision to withdraw the No. 11.
The Egyptian is accustomed to playing every minute of every game for Liverpool, but he managed 77 at Chelsea and he did not hide his disdain.
He tore at the wrapping around his wrists, throwing the tape on the pitch and making it clear what he thought of Klopp’s decision with the match delicately placed at 1-1.
Seventeen-year-old Ben Doak took his place and Salah was subsequently denied the opportunity to score on the opening day for seven consecutive seasons.
With the reaction quick to be dissected across social media, the manager quickly downplayed the situation before it could get out of hand when talking post-match.
“Mo if he scores could have been [a new record for opening day goals], so I understand it [the reaction], but in that moment, I didn’t think about that,” Klopp said.
