Klopp offers verdict on out-of-form Salah after Atalanta defeat
By
Daryl Finch
Daryl Finch
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he's not worried about Mohamed Salah's recent form despite the Egyptian forward enduring a challenging night in the Reds' Europa League exit at the hands of Atalanta on Thursday.
Liverpool's European journey came to a disappointing end as they suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the quarter-finals, having lost the first leg 3-0 at Anfield.
The odds were stacked against Klopp's side heading into the return clash in Bergamo, but they made an early breakthrough when Trent Alexander-Arnold won a penalty in the fifth minute. Salah confidently converted the spot-kick, offering a glimmer of hope for the visitors.
However, the Egyptian struggled to make an impact during the game from a more central position. In fact, he missed a crucial chance to make it 2-0 on the night when he chipped the ball well wide of the target after going through on goal shortly before half-time.
Early in the second half, the 31-year-old missed another good chance but was spared his blushes by the offside flag before being replaced by Diogo Jota in the 66th minute.
Klopp on Salah slump: 'That's what happens'
Despite Salah's recent dip in form since returning from a hamstring injury last month, the Reds boss remains calm about the situation.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Klopp addressed concerns about Salah's performance, saying, "I'm not concerned. That's what strikers do; that's what happens to strikers.
"He has to go through that, he's one of the most experienced players in the squad. That's pretty much it."
Klopp stressed that missed opportunities are part of the game, "I don't make a big story about it, what you make of it, I have no influence, but no, I'm not particularly concerned."
While Liverpool's Europa League campaign may have ended in disappointment, Klopp's confidence in Salah's abilities suggests that the Egyptian forward will continue to play a pivotal role for the Reds as they focus on their remaining domestic fixtures.
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