Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he probably angered Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane on Saturday.
The Reds moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table by beating Crystal Palace 7-0 at Selhurst Park.
It was a wonderful day for Liverpool but a frustrating one for Mane, who was taken off for Mo Salah after only 51 minutes.
The former Southampton star had scored his side’s second goal of the afternoon and looked visibly annoyed by Klopp’s decision to withdraw him.
Here’s what the Liverpool boss said about the situation to BBC Sport at full-time: “I can understand why he was [annoyed]. He looked at the clock – 51 minutes – I was happy we could do it so earlier but he was not happy, it’s normal, it’s fine! I have to make the decisions and the boys accept it.”
Yep, this is a bit of a storm in a teacup it has to be said.
Although Mane was clearly fuming – and made no attempt to hide his disgust even on the bench – it was the right decision by the Liverpool boss.
It’s imperative that Klopp rotates his players over the coming weeks, with Diogo Jota absent for a couple of months.
Liverpool have more injury problems than you can shake a stick at and the last thing the reigning Premier League champions need is another big-name star on the sidelines.
The game was dead and buried by the time Salah – who scored twice himself late on – replaced the Senegal international.
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