WE HAVE TO KEEP A GRIP ON MO
Unsettled hot-shot Salah vital to Klopp – now and in the future
JURGEN KLOPP admits that keeping unsettled Mo Salah at Liverpool is his priority.
Kop boss Klopp has seen their title defence collapse in spectacular fashion.
The season has been cursed by injury, erratic results, poor form and now tragedy after the death of keeper Alisson’s father in a swimming accident in Brazil.
Salah’s electric form has been one of the few positives with the Egyptian striker top of the Premier League charts with 17 goals – and 24 in all competitions from 35 games.
Bumper
Despite Liverpool struggling to perform like champions, Salah has been the one constant.
The 28-year-old African star has even outscored European giants Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Salah is said to be looking for a bumper pay upgrade on his current deal, which runs until June 2023.
That has not materialised so far, with Salah reportedly disappointed Liverpool are stalling on a big new offer.
But with speculation still swirling about the hitman’s future, Klopp has hammered home his importance for this season and beyond.
“Both are very important – to the team now and that he stays here with us in the future,” said Klopp.
“It’s not often that I have to praise my own players which, of course, I always like to do. But in Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves, which is one thing.
“But Mo is not only a goalscorer – he’s developed football-wise as well in his time here.
“He is a very, very important player for us and hopefully will be that for a very long time.”
Klopp has tried to lift the spirits of his struggling stars by telling them how good they still are.
He said: “I did it last season but now the situation is different, it’s not the same idea behind it like then.
“But yes, I still show the good things as well just because I want to keep the team confident. And results right now cannot give confidence, that is clear.
“So where do you get confidence from?
“From the good things in a game. So as long as we can keep good things on the pitch, we will play good football.
“We have to play successful football, I know that, and for that we need to emphasise that the performances and situations must be better.
“So long as my team shows me that they really want the football, have the desire to win or change the situation, I am completely on their side.
“Because then the rest we can change.
“That is not always in the time frame the outside world wants – but still you can change it and that is what we are trying.”
Analysis
Klopp reckons
Liverpool have more in common with today’s opponents, Chris
Wilder’s relegation-haunted
Blades – than at first it seems.
“Our analysis of Sheffield United shows that in the last seven or eight games they have been much better than before,” he said.
“They weren’t using their own chances and for the opponent it was enough just to have one chance to score.
“It’s similar to us. They are not there because they are completely underperforming but because in decisive moments, like us, they didn’t do enough things right.”
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed that he’s the worst loser at Manchester United – even ahead of Bruno Fernandes.
The Norwegian boss is seen as amiable and easy going, but when United lose he has a darker side that even surpasses Fernandes’ dislike for defeat.
Since his £47million move from Sporting Lisbon, he has quickly established a reputation in the Old Trafford dressing room as a player who takes losing badly.
Fernandes demands total commitment from his team-mates and when it doesn’t go to plan the Portuguese midfielder kicks off.
Talismanic
Last August against Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals, the talismanic playmaker ripped into Victor Lindelof when the Swedish defender’s mistake cost United a place in the final.
But Solskjaer claims he hates losing MORE than Fernandes.
He said: “You know if you are at Man United and you enjoy losing you are at the wrong place.
“I don’t show my frustration maybe so much as Bruno but I think maybe I am the worst loser.
“You have probably not seen it but some of the players have.”
The Red Devils face a Chelsea side rejuvenated since the arrival of boss Thomas Tuchel – but while Solskjaer hates losing he is a winner when it comes to being backed by United.
Chelsea are ruthless when their managers go through a sticky patch or don’t deliver, just ask Stamford Bridge hero Frank Lampard who was sacked last month after just 18 months in the job.
United operate on a different model – and although Solskjaer has endured difficult moments since taking over from Jose Mourinho, the Glazer family who own the club have kept their nerve.
And Solskjaer believes he has the backing to push on even though United’s title bid has faltered in recent weeks.
He said: “For me, the main thing is we sat down and had a very open, honest discussion when I came in and I laid down my plans.
“The club make the decisions and they agreed with me on some of the changes we had to make.
“Of course, I am not going to say it will never happen that we change course because the job is about results and you need to see improvements.
“But hopefully we have proved to the club and to the fans, us as staff what we want from the team and want from our players.”
Swoop
United have been linked with a double summer swoop for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland with Solskjaer insisting he needs quality not quantity.
He added: “We look at the squad every window and see what is out there, see what we feel we need.
“And our transfer plans, we have long-term plans and I feel my squad now is more and more full of younger players that can improve.
“I have a strong squad, a deep squad. I can’t say if it’s going to be ‘X’ amount of signings in the summer.
“We still look at players and it has to be the right one.”