Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are fed up with and jealous of Mohamed Salah, according to El Pais journalist Diego Torres.
The report from Spain reads: “Mané and Firmino lead the faction that observes Salah as a privileged person who takes advantage of the strenuous collective work that everyone does to recover the ball after the loss.
“Aware that it generates discomfort, Salah shows signs of boredom. Born into a wealthy family of jasmine exporters from the Nile Delta, at 28 years old, he doesn’t seem willing to have a hard time.
“They are fed up with being the ones who run the most so that Salah, whom they deem less complete, is the one who looks the most and who makes the most money according to Forbes, €12 million per year.”
Torres also added that the Liverpool camp “has been tense with jealousy”, with Salah’s high wage supposedly the cause of the discontent.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JUNE 24: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace at Anfield on June 24, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Phil Noble/Pool via Getty Images)
In all fairness to Salah, without him, Liverpool would be in a seriously bad situation this season.
His 31 goal contributions have carried the Reds at times and with Mane and Firmino’s levels dipping hugely over the last 12 months, it seems unfair for them to be jealous of Salah and his earnings because he is undoubtedly the best player at the club.
While the Egyptian might not run as much or contribute as much defensively, this is tactical as Jurgen likes to have him as the highest player up the pitch due to his clinical finishing and ability to run beyond players.
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 06: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on April 06, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Part of me feels as though the report from El Pais is simply a tactic from the Spanish media to try and further unsettle Liverpool ahead of the second leg of the quarter-final tie with Real Madrid.
The Reds head into the fixture two goals behind the La Liga champions and need to win the game 2-0 to progress to the semi-finals. Klopp will need his attacking players to be at their best to have any chances of winning.
