Liverpool fell further out of contention for the English Premier League title on Saturday.
That’s perhaps the least of Jurgen Klopp’s problems.
Just as upsetting for the outgoing Liverpool manager in a 2-2 draw with West Ham might be a touchline confrontation with his star forward, Mohamed Salah, that Klopp tried to downplay after the match.
Salah, not so much.
“There’s going to be a fire today if I speak,” the Egypt winger was heard telling journalists as he left the Olympic Stadium.
The incident happened as Salah was preparing to enter as a substitute soon after Michail Antonio’s 77th-minute equalizer. It was the second time in Liverpool’s last three games that Salah has been benched, an unusual position for one of the club’s greatest scorers who has rarely been dropped in his time at Anfield.
Whether Salah remains at Liverpool beyond this season remains to be seen — he was linked heavily with a move to Saudi Arabia last year — but Klopp is sure to be going.
With three games left in the league, his successful Liverpool tenure might be ending on a sour note.
This latest setback came after recent losses to Crystal Palace and Everton, and left the team in third place — two points behind Arsenal and one off Manchester City. They both have games in hand over Liverpool.
“Do they look like they will lose two or three games?” Klopp said of Arsenal and City. “No, I don’t think so but honestly I am not angry or whatever. I don’t think about it.”
FIRST RELEGATED TEAM
While Liverpool’s title dreams are looking remote, Sheffield United’s faint chances of staying up are officially done.
A 5-1 loss at Newcastle confirmed Sheffield United as the first team to be relegated from the top flight this season. The Blades are 10 points from safety with three matches remaining, ensuring they will be going straight back to the Championship.
“We have not been good enough,” said manager Chris Wilder, who took over in December for a second spell in charge after Paul Heckingbottom was fired. “The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.
“It’s an incredibly young side and there is a complete lack of leadership out there.”
Newcastle, which is in seventh place, closed the gap to Manchester United to one point and looks increasingly like securing qualification for a European competition next season.
Alexander Isak scored two of Newcastle’s goals and has 19 for the campaign, one behind joint leaders Cole Palmer of Chelsea and Erling Haaland of Man City.
BOOS FOR UNITED
There were more jeers for Manchester United and under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag in a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Burnley.
Substitute Zeki Amdouni’s 87th-minute penalty — earned after he was bundled over by United goalkeeper Andre Onana — canceled out Antony’s goal in the 79th and secured a point for next-to-last Burnley, which is two points from safety.
Boos greeted the final whistle at Old Trafford, having earlier echoed even louder around the stadium when youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund were substituted midway through the second half.
“Those players have to adjust and that takes time,” Ten Hag said. “I’m sorry for everyone. I’m very impatient but we need patience. And the fans, they need patience.”
VILLA HELD
Aston Villa’s push for Champions League qualification was dented by squandering a two-goal lead over Chelsea and drawing 2-2 at home.
Villa, which is fourth, moved seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham and has three games left.
Spurs have three games in hand, starting with Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday. They also must play City and Liverpool in a tough run-in, so Villa remains the favorite to claim the fourth and final Champions League place.
Villa has never qualified for the Champions League. The team has twice played in Europe’s top competition but not since 1982-83, when the team reached the quarterfinals of what was then the European Cup. Villa won it the season before.
Second-half goals by Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher earned a point for Chelsea, which had a stoppage-time header from Axel Disasi overturned after a VAR review. Morgan Rogers added to an own-goal by Marc Cucurella as the hosts built a 2-0 halftime lead.
EVERTON SAFE
Everton ensured a 71st straight year in England’s top division by beating Brentford 1-0.
That moved Everton 11 points above third-to-last Luton with three games remaining for each.
Everton has survived despite getting docked a total of eight points for two breaches of the Premier League financial rules.
Luton lost at Wolverhampton 2-1 to stay in the relegation zone and one point adrift of Nottingham Forest, which plays Man City on Sunday.
Fulham and Crystal Palace drew 1-1.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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