Jurgen Klopp’s definitive verdict on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as ‘irreplaceable’ after the forward confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Salah announced earlier this week that his nine-year spell at Anfield will end once the current campaign concludes.

The Egyptian international will depart as one of the most successful players in Liverpool’s modern history.

He has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for the club since joining from AS Roma in 2017.

Klopp, who managed Salah during Liverpool’s most successful recent period, says the club will struggle to replace a player with such extraordinary output.

“This specific kind of player is irreplaceable,” Klopp said while speaking at an event organised by the LFC Foundation.

“There will be a void that somebody will fill, but the specific player, Mo Salah? I’m not sure there is even another one existing out there.”

Klopp pointed to Salah’s remarkable statistics as evidence of his unique influence.

“There are other players playing on that wing with different strengths and qualities, but the numbers he produces are unmatched from that position,” Klopp added.

“You tell him he is a striker and he says: ‘No, no, no, I am a winger’. The numbers for a winger are ridiculous, and for a striker they are still almost unmatched.”

Klopp also revealed that he exchanged messages with Salah following the announcement of his departure.

“I heard that Mo was going to leave, and then I saw the video,” Klopp explained. “So I texted him what I thought in that moment.”

“I told him I am really happy and proud that I was part of the whole journey.”

Klopp acknowledged that their working relationship was not always without tension. He said that disagreements occasionally occurred during their time together.

“We both know we had arguments, not big ones, but arguments,” he said. “Like the one at West Ham, both of us five seconds later would have thought we should not do that in public.”

“But the next morning it was already over.”

Klopp stressed that respect always remained between the two men.

“We never lost respect for each other, and that is what I really like,” Klopp said.

Salah formed part of Liverpool’s famous attacking trio alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino during Klopp’s tenure.

That group helped deliver some of the club’s recent achievements, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title in 2020.

Klopp believes Liverpool will eventually adapt once Salah departs.

“Don’t try to chase the shadows,” he said. “Find a new way and play.”