Jurgen Klopp has opened up on his relationship with Mohamed Salah, with the pair having infamously clashed towards the end of the German's time in charge at Liverpool
18:28, 28 Jun 2026
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) walks out with Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (C) ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 19, 2024. Jurgen Klopp said Friday he has experienced the "most intense" week of his life as he prepares to bring down the curtain on his trophy-filled Liverpool reign. Klopp, who arrived at the club in October 2015, won seven major trophies at Liverpool, including the club's first league title for 30 years and the 2019 Champions League. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has made his feelings clear on Mohamed Salah following his exit from Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has insisted he is friends with Mohamed Salah, despite the pair’s public fallout towards the end of the former’s time in charge at Liverpool.
Both Klopp and Salah have now departed Anfield, with the latter bringing the curtain down on his nine-year spell this summer, having reached an agreement with Liverpool to waive the final year of his contract.
Salah’s exit came after a controversial season in which he hit out at the club’s heirarchy and former head coach Arne Slot, but that’s not the only time he has clashed with the man at the helm during his time on Merseyside.
The Egyptian infamously argued with Klopp during the German’s final few weeks in charge, with Salah reacting angrily after being dropped to the bench for a game against West Ham in 2024.
Although Salah didn’t appear to be on the best of terms with his former manager by the time Klopp left the club, the 59-year-old has revealed he does in fact hold a good relationship with his old star player.
"We are friends now," Klopp told ESPN. "So how I saw it with my players, I always said it, I want to be the friend of my players. I cannot be their best friend.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool clashes with Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool FC at London Stadium on April 27, 2024 in London, England.
Salah clashed with Klopp towards the end of the German's time at Liverpool(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“While you're working together, players sometimes think I'm not even their friend because I have to make some decisions they don't like. But the good thing is it's all past.
“The strongest thing in life is good memories. They are stronger than pretty much anything else. And right now we share them and so we are friends and now he's at the World Cup."
Salah’s departure from Anfield comes after a disappointing final season which saw his numbers drop after a superb 2024/25 campaign.
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Asked how he would set up a team when its main star isn’t performing, Klopp said: "I want him to try. I want him to fail. If you don't fail, you don't take risks. If you don't take risks, where's excitement? Where's the outcome?
“How can you reach the next level if you don't try things other people can't do? Did he perform every day? Probably not. But I can't remember one player to be honest who did that.
“Of course, as a coach, you stand out there and you think, 'Yeah, he could do this better, he could do that better.' But looking back, we just witnessed greatness.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah leaves Liverpool this summer(Image: (Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images))
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"That's the truth as well. That's the truth as well because most of the time he delivered in an incredible way and most of the time he's got incredible goals.
“Most of the time he decided games for us and most of the time he pushed us to the next level. He is until today an incredible professional. So that's it.
“And none of us, nobody was perfect, not Messi or Ronaldo, not Mo Salah. They are not perfect, but they are closer than us to that."