'Klopp wouldn't have won a Liverpool trophy WITHOUT Mo Salah' says ex-Prem striker

Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah’s touchline fallout continues to draw discussion, with Liverpool’s manager and star forward clashing during the Reds’ 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham. 

The German coach summoned his striker from the bench with 12 minutes to go, as part of a planned triple substitution also involving Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez. 

Just prior to the 31-year-old’s introduction, West Ham levelled up through Michail Antonio and then the ugly spat unfolded. 

The duo appeared to exchange angry words before Salah came on, and the bad mood lingered with Liverpool dropping two more precious points in the title race. 

The Merseysiders’ misery was compounded when Arsenal and Manchester City both won on Sunday, all but ending Klopp’s chances of ending the season with a second Premier League title to his name. 

While much of the reaction has focussed on Salah’s behaviour, with Egypt legend Mohamed Aboutrika calling his compatriot ‘arrogant’ and ex-Liverpool captain Steve Nicol suggesting that the 210-goal striker had no reason to grumble given his recent form. 

But one prominent voice has now stood up for Salah with ex-Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor accusing the manager of showing his forward disrespect. 

The former Aston Villa hitman believes that after everything that Salah has done for Liverpool - including winning a Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup title - he deserves to be more than a late substitute in a vital league game with the title on the line. 

"I think it's been coming from Salah,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. “Salah's not a sub.

"You can put Salah on the bench if you are rotating. But Salah has scored 210 goals and has 86 assists for Liverpool.

"A game against West Ham is tough, you don't give him 12 minutes. That's what he was probably saying on the sideline. '12 minutes, come on, I'm Salah, you wouldn't have a trophy without me, Jurgen'.

"They wouldn't have won any trophies without Salah. He's been unbelievable for that football club. Where's the respect?"

Klopp is set to depart Liverpool at the end of the season with time fasting running out on his nine-year spell. 

Klopp causing problems for Liverpool says Agbonlahor

And Agbonlahor fears that the ex-Dortmund boss might be now ‘upsetting’ some of Liverpool’s star players, leading to a predicament down the line for his successor, the soon-to-be-announced Arne Slot, who could find himself in a difficult situation over Salah. 

"Klopp is causing problems now for Liverpool's squad next season [by] upsetting players,” he said.

"There is talk of Salah leaving. Could this affect Salah now?

"You need to win a game in a title challenge, and you are giving your star player 12 minutes, so you can't blame him on the sideline.

"I think Klopp's got that wrong, disrespecting Salah."