Liverpool: Salah Still In Pain After AFCON 2021 Trophy Loss To Mane, Senegal – Klopp

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has said that Mohamed Salah is yet to fully recover from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title loss to his Reds teammate, Sadio Mane in Cameroon.

Naija News reports that Egypt lost out to Senegal in last Sunday’s AFCON final in Cameroon.

Mane scored the winning goal during the penalty shootouts which saw the Teranga Lions win their first AFCON title since inception.

Salah had returned to Liverpool just 24 hours later, while Mane is still to return as he soaks up the celebrations in his homeland.

Speaking on Salah’s return to Anfield, Klopp said the Egyptian is still in pain but will recover quick having experienced disappointments of loosing in finals with the Reds.

Naija News understands that Liverpool lost three finals in the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League under Klopp before lifting the Champions League in 2019 and going on to end a 30-year wait to win the Premier League.

Speaking on Wednesday ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Leicester in the English Premier League, Klopp said: “Losing a final is always really hard – I can sing that song – but losing the way they lost it was especially hard and that is what he felt as well,” Klopp said on Wednesday.

“We spoke obviously and we will see. He will deal with that, of course, and I hope today will already be better, but yesterday everyone could see he still has the final in his mind.”

He added that “When you lose a final, which we are obviously the best example for, it is really, really hard, but if you use it for the next big game or next big tournament then it can at least still be helpful, even if it was really hard.”

Salah is, however, in contention to feature against Leicester on Thursday as Liverpool aim to keep the pressure on Manchester City at the top of the table.

Klopp though in his expression does not believe Salah needs any more motivation to succeed.

The Reds coach said: “Greater determination than Mo already had? I am not sure that is human.

“Yes, that all helps in the long-term, but I don’t think there is a lot of space for more determination in Mo’s mind,” Klopp added.