Klopp rounds on critics in Salah penalty controversy
Liverpool manager J ur gen Kl opp can not understand the criticism Mohamed Salah has received for the incident in which he won a penalty in Saturday's victor y over West Ham.
Hammers boss David Moyes label led the Egypt international' sf all under a tackle from Arthur Masuaku a "dive" despite the defender making contact.
Salah picked himself up to slot home the spot-kick and equalise just before half-time and that allowed Liverpool to go on and win to extend their unbeaten home league run to a record-equalling 63 games .
There has been criticism of Salah's actions from several pundits, ex-players and media commentators over the weekend but Klopp was at a loss to explain it.
Asked if he understood the reaction, the Reds boss said: ""What can I say? It was a foul. Pretty much everyone who saw the situation thought it was a foul. Believe it or not, I spoke to Mo yesterday morning about how he feels. He has exactly three proper knocks on the foot. One of them is from the penalty situation.
"That's how it is. There is a knock, you go down or not, whatever. Sometimes the refs give it.
"There was clear contact. So what can I say? No. I don't understand the criticism."
Undeterred by the accusations being levelled against him, Sal ah will be looking to add to his eight goals in 11 appearances this season against Atalanta in Bergamo tonight. Liverpool are top of Champions League Group D with six points from their opening two matches and a third successive victory would go along way to propelling them towards the knockout stages. They could be boosted by the return of central defender Joel Ma tip, who trained ahead of the game having missed the last four matches through injury.
The 29-year-old's return to fitness would mean K lo pp does not have to hand 19- yearold Rhys Williams his full Champions League de but with Virgil Van Dijk and backup Fabinho still missing.
Naby Keita has also returned to the squad having been out for five games, although fellow midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains doubtful.
A couple of players who are pushing for contention are Diogo Jota and Xherdan Shaqiri, who have both provided important interventions in the last couple of weeks.
Summer signing Jota is challenging for Roberto Firm ino's starting berth after three goals in as many games, two of which were winners and the other the imp or tant break - through against a determined Midtjylland side last week at Anfield.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Shaqiri, who appeared to be destined for a summer exit, has had are-emergence. Deployed in a midfield role rather than on the wing the Switzerland international has played a key role in Jota's last two goals.
"Shaq can play the wing, he has everything for that, but he is a versatile, offensive player and he played for us as an eight, wing and no 10," said Klopp.