Mohamed Salah went straight down the tunnel with the match ball after Liverpool’s win over Rangers (AMA/Getty)
Mohamed Salah has been criticised by Liverpool supporters for heading straight down the tunnel after the 7-1 victory over Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The Egypt international started on the bench for Liverpool’s fourth game in Group A, with Jurgen Klopp opting to start with Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino, Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott in attack at Ibrox.
Salah was brought on for Nunez in the 68th minute and he needed just six minutes in which to complete the fastest-ever hat-trick in the Champions League.
But Liverpool fans were left bemused at full time as Salah picked up the match ball and trudged straight down the tunnel, while the rest of Liverpool’s players, including the substitutes and Klopp, went over to the away section to acknowledge the travelling supporters.
Salah’s decision is likely to raise further questions about his happiness at Liverpool and his actions did not go unnoticed by supporters.
Mohamed Salah did not acknowledge Liverpool fans in the corner at Ibrox after the game (BT Sport)
Mohamed Salah went straight down the tunnel while his Liverpool teammates stayed on the pitch (BT Sport)
One Liverpool fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Salah sulking and walking off the pitch early. Serious lack of class or respect for his teammates or Rangers.’
Another Liverpool supporter wrote: ‘Salah grabbing the match ball and heading down the tunnel without thanking the travelling fans says a lot about where his head’s at.’
Meanwhile, other Liverpool supporters compared Salah’s reaction to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also failed to acknowledge Manchester United’s supporters on several occasions since his return to Old Trafford last year.
‘Bit odd to see Salah walk straight down the tunnel after full time. At least go and see the fans. If Ronaldo had done that, it would be everywhere,’ one Liverpool supporter wrote.
Another Liverpool supporter commented: ‘So Salah scores a hat trick, grabs the ball then straight down the tunnel, no hand shakes, no thanking the fans, poor show, no defence for that Ronaldo-type attitude.’
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Speaking about his decision to bench Salah, Klopp said: ‘It’s not with half an eye on the weekend.
‘It’s just we just have to realise that we’re in the middle of a very busy period. We cannot force the boys through, we have to make changes.
‘We can do changes and we can make them. Diogo [Jota] was not planned, obviously. That’s why he was in the press conference yesterday. But then you get a call from the medical department, ‘he can play but not too long.’ Oh great.
‘So then we’d rather change somebody else who can play 90 minutes and that’s why he doesn’t start. He’s on the bench and is available.’
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Salah did not look happy.