Jurgen Klopp Addresses 'Little Story' Between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane

In 2019, during Liverpool's dominant 3-0 victory over Burnley in the Premier League, a brief but public spat erupted between star forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. As Mane was substituted, he gestured angrily toward Salah, upset over a missed pass during an earlier attacking move where Salah opted to shoot instead.[1][2][3]

Years later, Mane reflected on the incident, recalling his intense frustration: "I was really, really angry because he didn’t pass to me, he should pass to me."[1][2] The next day, Salah approached him for a candid talk. "He said: 'You think I didn't want to pass you? I didn’t score... I just got the ball, I want to shoot. But I have nothing against you,'" Mane recounted. Salah admitted he hadn't seen Mane in that moment, a common striker's instinct. Mane accepted the explanation, assuring Salah, "Don't worry... We'll catch him, we'll put him in the pocket."[2]

Manager Jurgen Klopp quickly downplayed the tension post-match, laughing it off as a "little story." He noted, "Sadio cannot hide his emotions, I like that. But all sorted. We spoke about it and everything is fine. We are individuals, we are emotional."[1][3] Klopp viewed it as a healthy sign of passion within his tight-knit "family" squad, which went on to share the Golden Boot between Salah, Mane, and others en route to the 2020 title.[1]

Despite off-pitch distance—"we weren’t very close, but we always respected each other"—the pair remained professional, and Mane credits the bust-up with strengthening their bond: "I think since that day, we have become even closer."[2] Liverpool's success under Klopp thrived amid such human moments, with Mane hailed as the catalyst for the team's rise since 2016.[1]

Recent reports hint at frostier undertones in Salah's relationships with both Mane and Klopp, framing Salah's view of Mane as a rival, though the Burnley episode was resolved maturely.[4] This "little story" underscores the emotional intensity fueling Liverpool's golden era.

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