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Jurgen Klopp has lauded Mohamed Salah as "super special" amid the ongoing speculation surrounding the Liverpool forward's future.
Salah was notably absent from the Reds' squad for their triumph over Inter Milan on Tuesday. Manager Arne Slot had confirmed prior to the match that Salah would be left out following his controversial remarks at the weekend. The Liverpool star was an unused substitute during the club's 3-3 draw with Leeds, marking the third consecutive game he had been named on the bench.
Subsequently, Salah expressed feeling "thrown under the bus" and unjustly blamed for the team's poor results. The Egyptian disclosed that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated and hinted that this weekend's clash against Brighton might be his last for Liverpool.
Salah is set to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations before the January transfer window commences.
This marks a stark contrast from when Salah was hailed for his 29 league goals that helped Liverpool clinch a second Premier League title last season. His current tally stands at five goals in 19 appearances across all competitions this term.
However, former Liverpool boss Klopp has highlighted why the club may regret potentially losing Salah. In a new BBC documentary, 'Mo Salah: Never Give Up,' Klopp remarked: "When I arrived, we had the players who were there, but we were looking for wingers, for speed. If you have a player with speed, with technique, with finishing skills, with a nose for the goal, that makes him super special."
Following his switch from Roma in 2017, Salah made 349 appearances under Klopp, scoring 211 goals. He became instrumental for the German boss, playing a crucial part in delivering Champions League and Premier League silverware to the club.
However, tensions did surface between Klopp and Salah during the manager's final months. The forward found himself on the bench for an away trip to West Ham in April 2024, and the pair had a fiery exchange on the touchline as he prepared to come on following the Hammers' equalizer.
"I wouldn't say Mo is easy to manage, but he's not difficult to manage," Klopp said in the BBC documentary. "You have problems with Mo Salah if he's not playing, you have problems with Mo Salah if you take him off."
While Klopp may have foreseen Salah's reaction to being dropped by Slot, he emphasized that Salah's mindset distinguishes him from others. The former Liverpool boss recalled how the Egypt international would return to preseason training each summer having perfected a new skill, having dedicated his time off to improving his game.
"He knew early that he has to do more," Klopp said. "That's why Chelsea was maybe the most important club he had just to say, 'Ok, I thought I am good enough but now they show me I'm not good enough, so I will go out train a bit harder and come back and then I'm good enough.'"
He continued: "He never stops. That's his mindset, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time."
When asked about Salah following Liverpool's win at Inter, Slot responded: "I think tonight it should be all about a team like this tonight, against a team like this who are winning and a stadium like this. The focus should be on that tonight.
"I can fully understand if I go into the press conference on Friday and all the questions are on Mo, but I think these players deserve for it to be about them tonight."
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