Jurgen Klopp refuses to publicly criticise Mo Salah for attending his brother’s wedding before testing positive for Covid-19 and says ceremony was ‘a very special moment’… but admits the ‘rest is between Mo and me’
- Jurgen Klopp says he has spoken to Mohamed Salah following his positive test
- Salah attended his brother’s wedding and was later shown to have coronavirus
- The Liverpool talisman is now set to miss Sunday’s crunch tie with Leicester City
- Klopp has praised the discipline of his players and insists weddings are ‘special’
Jurgen Klopp insists he has spoken several times to Mohamed Salah after the forward tested positive for coronavirus after attending a large-scale wedding ceremony in Egypt, and does not have a problem with his star man.
During the international break Salah attended his brother’s wedding and was seen on camera dancing, socialising with numerous guests and not observing social distancing.
The Liverpool star later returned a positive coronavirus test, and has headed back to Merseyside via private jet for a period of recovery.
Jurgen Klopp spoke to the media on Friday ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Leicester and refused to publicly criticise Mohamed Salah for attending a large-scale wedding
Klopp will now be without his star man as Liverpool contend with a mounting injury crisis
Salah is now set to miss Liverpool’s crunch top-of-the-table clash with Leicester City on Sunday as a result, though Klopp has refused to publicly criticise the Egyptian.
Speaking to reporters during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp said: ‘He is probably back today. In close contact and how it always is.
‘He’s in a good place, feels well. No symptoms. Nothing to say in public about [the wedding].’
The Liverpool boss the brought up a personal example from earlier in the year where he chose to miss a friend’s birthday, though admits that the wedding of a close relative like a brother is a ‘special moment.’
Salah tested positive for coronavirus just days after attending the wedding of his brother
The wedding of Salah’s brother, Nasr (right) took place in the Egyptian capital of Cairo
Klopp added: ‘I was in the summer in Germany, a friend of mine moved his party only because of me, 50 people attended and [then] I decided the last minute not to go.
‘That was allowed in Germany at that time, so only one situation [but] in other countries there’s more social pressure on you and a brother’s wedding is a very special moment.
‘I have to say all my players are incredibly disciplined. They really know about the situation, but sometimes it doesn’t always work like that. All the rest is between Mo and me.’
Liverpool must now face Brendan Rodgers’ high-flying side with a multitude of absences throughout their ranks.
Liverpool are also set to be without captain Jordan Henderson due to a groin injury
Joe Gomez was also injured on England duty, leaving Klopp’s defence decimated by injury
A mounting injury crisis means Liverpool are without three of their first-choice defenders, while captain Jordan Henderson has also been ruled out after picking up a groin problem with England.
Klopp has confirmed both Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold will not feature in Sunday’s game, joining Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as absentees.
When asked about the potential return of summer signing Thiago Alcantara and midfield general Fabinho, Klopp replied: ‘[They are] both in a good way, Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is] in a good way. Closer but we will see if close enough for the weekend.’
