Klopp explains decision to drop Salah after Madrid & Barcelona bombshell

The Liverpool boss has benched Mohamed Salah after the star expressed his frustration at missing out on the captain’s armband.

Jurgen Klopp insists his decision to demote Mohamed Salah to the bench for Saturday’s game with Crystal Palace was based on the need to rest the star.

Salah recently confessed that Klopp’s decision to not name him captain in Liverpool’s final Champions League group stage against Midtjylland left him ‘very disappointed’. Trent Alexander-Arnold, 22, instead got the nod.

The former Chelsea man then refused to rule out a future move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid in La Liga.

Mohamed Salah is flexing for Real Madrid and Barcelona 👀

Is his time at Liverpool coming to an end? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/5nUqIi5BBQ

— Goal (@goal) December 19, 2020

But while Salah’s comments wouldn’t have been well received at Anfield, Klopp insists the 28-year-old is on the bench for football reasons alone.

“Mo Salah is on the bench, they have all played a lot of games. He can come on and make a difference,” the Reds boss explained to BT Sport as quoted by Football London.

“We need all the boys.”

Klopp has attempted to freshen up his side for this weekend, with Joel Matip and Naby Keita replacing Curtis Jones and Rhys Williams.

“Both teams are in the same situation, playing Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday so it will be a tough ask,” he continued.

On Salah, Klopp again added: “Mo played the last four games nearly full so it was clear we tried to change today a little bit. Mo can come on and, hopefully, make the difference – that is the plan.”