Sports
6 Liverpool Players, Including Mo Salah, Fell Out With Jurgen Klopp
On the face of it, Jurgen Klopp was a much-beloved character on the red half of Merseyside as Liverpool were in a state of disarray when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2015. By the time he upped and left nine years later, another Champions League trophy was added to their tally and their name had been engraved into the top flight trophy for the first time since the league’s rebrand in 1992.
Things weren’t always neat and shiny for the 58-year-old and his win-at-all-costs mentality meant that falling out with players was inevitable. Nuri Sahin felt the wrath of the passionate manager during their time in Germany together – and that continued to be the case when Klopp moved to England’s top flight. Here are six players of a Liverpool persuasion who clashed with the managerial great.
1
Mamadou Sakho
Signed by Klopp’s predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, Mamadou Sakho‘s happy-go-lucky attitude meant that he’s a tough person to fall out with – but the German tactician valued punctuality highly and that’s how this relationship quickly dissolved into a bit of a feud. That’s because Sakho, who also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Crystal Palace, was late to numerous meetings.
He was even sent home early from Liverpool’s 2016 pre-season tour in the United States. “He missed the departure of the plane, he missed a session and then was late for a meal,” Klopp said before insinuating that Sakho didn’t strike him as a team player. “I have to build a group here, I have to start anew, so I thought it maybe made sense that he flew home to Liverpool.”
‘Jurgen Klopp Banished Me at Liverpool – But He Lied About Me For Weeks’
Mamadou Sakho’s Liverpool career ended in disappointing fashion after being banished by Jurgen Klopp.
Sakho didn’t make another appearance under Klopp and, for the first half of the 2016/17 season, he played for the club’s reserves before striking a deal with Palace. Getting their hands on the centre-back was considered shrewd at the time – but the £17 million man was not in Klopp’s plans, and it wasn’t at all to do with him performing poorly on the pitch.
2
Mohamed Salah
Widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s greatest players of all time, Mohamed Salah and Klopp (typically!) saw eye to eye when he was grabbing goals left, right and centre, which inevitably resulted in plenty of success. It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, though, after the Egypt international showed that he wasn’t happy with his manager in 2024 for leaving him on the bench.
When coming on as a substitute against West Ham United, the serial goal-getter was displeased – and that was evidenced by him holding his arms aloft and conversing with the German on the touchline. You can watch the footage of the two clashing below:
Stuttgart-born Klopp’s post-match interview was interesting. Speaking to TNT Sports, the ex-Mainz chief was keen on shutting down any swirling rumours about a deteriorating relationship, suggesting that the two had made amends in the dressing room and that should be the end of the matter: “No, [I won’t talk about it]. We spoke already in the dressing room and, for me, that’s done.”
3
Lazar Markovic
When Klopp tipped up to Merseyside, Lazar Markovic was on loan at Turkish outfit Fenerbahce as a means of getting more minutes under his belt and once he returned in the summer, it was abundantly clear from word go that he wasn’t going to be a regular at Anfield. A further three loan spells – at Sporting CP, Hull City and Anderlecht – beckoned before he left permanently in January 2019. That turned out to be an ill-fated free transfer to Fulham.
While on loan in Belgium, though, the winger hit out at Klopp and claimed that he would show him what he was missing. “It’s to show that I’m still the same player, to show the people at Liverpool that they can’t treat me that way,” he told a national newspaper. “Yes, it’s okay to take it personally when you are not let go because they’re asking for an unrealistic transfer amount.” Well, Klopp wasn’t proved wrong – and Markovic is now playing in the Cypriot top tier.
4
Mario Balotelli
Whether you think he is/was a talented striker or not, one thing is for certain: Mario Balotelli is a man who isn’t/wasn’t afraid to upset the applecart. Seldom high up in Klopp’s centre-forward pecking order, the Italian – who is among the players with the most wasted potential in football history – was left out of the Reds’ pre-season tour to the United States and all fingers pointed towards an exit.
Balotelli, who scored just one Premier League goal for Liverpool, moved to French side OGC Nice on deadline day, and he later hit out at his well thought of boss. “Klopp does not know me and I do not know him,” he said.
“I was back in Liverpool a month and a half and I spoke to him once. He explained to me that I could stay there, but I was not his first choice, and he told me it was better if I went somewhere else,” the Italy international continued. “If I got games, did well, I could come back, but I said goodbye and thank you, and that we wouldn’t be seeing each other again.”
5
Xherdan Shaqiri
In September 2018, Klopp’s Liverpool were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield – and Xherdan Shaqiri was singled out as the scapegoat. After the full-time whistle was blown, Klopp was spotted marching towards the forward, who is now enjoying the twilight period of his career playing for boyhood outfit Basel in his homeland. But why did he fall out with Klopp? “I spoke about a free-kick – the last one,” the German boss said, per The Mirror.
Klopp was referring to an injury-time free-kick when Salah was an option out wide and Shaqiri chose to ignore the open-wide Egyptian. “Mo [Mohamed Salah] was standing wide and a whole bunch of players were in one the direction where we shot the ball.”
“If he could have played in Mo on a one-on-one situation in the last minute of the game it would have been not too bad. It was only about the free-kick, nothing else. But at 1-0, Shaq was completely alone in the box and maybe you will have to ask him why he didn’t shoot in that situation.”
6
Jordon Ibe
Big things were expected of Jordon Ibe – now earning his corn for Lokomotiv Sofia in Bulgaria – when he was deemed to be Raheem Sterling’s worthy successor. Things never really panned out that way for the London-born winger, who earned four caps for England U21s, and he fell out with Klopp over a lack of game time. Ibe had not started in the Premier League for three months at that point.
“I heard from somewhere that Jordon has some problems with me or something? Absolutely not,” Klopp claimed, but things were never fruitful between the two.
What Happened to Former Liverpool Player Jordon Ibe
Jordon Ibe was seen as the future at Anfield when Raheem Sterling departed the club, but the 29-year-old’s career take some unfortunate turns
Ibe, now 29 years of age, left Liverpool for Bournemouth in a deal worth £15 million in the summer of 2016, and he made sure to wax lyrical about Rodgers – and not Klopp! – once his move was rubber-stamped and he had completed his move down south. “Bournemouth is a good club,” the wide man said before adding: “They play the same football as Brendan Rodgers used to play, so I like the style of play and the philosophy the manager has got.”
Turkish women’s tennis player, Zeynep Sonmez, has revealed what she asked the Wimbledon bosses after they banned her from wearing her usual pro-Palestine pin while competing at SW19 this year.
Sonmez is currently ranked number 51 in the world, and she made it through from the first round of the women’s singles by defeating Ann Li, before losing to American Claire Liu in the following round.
Despite her singles woes, Sonmez returned to the court earlier this week to compete in the women’s doubles event, alongside Jessica Maneiro. However, the duo were eliminated in round one in three sets.
Player Banned From Displaying Pro-Palestine Symbol at Wimbledon
During her three-match run at this year’s edition of Wimbledon, Sonmez showed her support for Palestine through the use of a vibration dampener, which has the symbol of a watermelon.
A watermelon is grown in Palestine, and the fruit has often been used as a substitute for the flag.
Throughout her career, Sonmez has regularly attached a watermelon pin to her dress when competing, but she revealed that she was banned from wearing it at this year’s Wimbledon.
“I used to wear a pin. Tournaments no longer allow me to wear it,” she told members of the media, before revealing what she had asked tournament bosses about the decision.
Why Wimbledon Bosses Banned Pro-Palestine Symbol
“We discussed with the organisers. [I asked why] the Ukrainian flag is allowed, but the Palestinian is not. They ultimately told us they definitely won’t allow it. So, I can’t wear the pin.”
Organisers are reported to have cited the tournament’s strict dress code as the reasoning behind the decision.
“I can use the vibration dampener, and they can’t object to that. That’s why I put the watermelon symbol on my racket.”
The watermelon, which features the same colours as the Palestinian flag, has become a widely-used symbol of Palestinian resilience against Israeli oppression and occupation
In response to her stance, Osman Askin Bak, who is the Turkish minister of Youth and Sports, supported her in her brave efforts by writing a post on the social media app ‘X’ which read:
“By refusing to remain silent in the face of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, she has once again demonstrated with her honourable stance that sport is not merely about competition; it is also a carrier of universal values.
“For this meaningful sensitivity, we wholeheartedly congratulate our athlete and respectfully salute every conscientious voice that stands with the oppressed.”
When previously asked about her support towards Palestine and her choice to wear a pin when in competition, Sonmez told the WTA about how it affects her emotionally:
“It’s a sensitive area for me. People in Palestine are suffering. I see videos and photos and feel like there’s not so much we can do.
“But we can always do our best, it’s like I was saying, you can be the best version of yourself. I want everyone to know that I’m standing with them.”
Tottenham Hotspur have been the busiest club in the transfer market so far this summer, but they aren’t done yet.
The north London club finished 17th in the Premier League for a second consecutive season, but manager Roberto De Zerbi has been given a war chest to rebuild the squad and make them competitive again.
So far the Italian has added Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Mateus Fernandes, while a £100m deal for Sandro Tonali has also been agreed to bring him in from Newcastle. The club are now believed to be looking at their forward line next, and the top target has been revealed.
Tottenham Prioritise Savinho Transfer
Spurs have shown a strong interest in a number of forward options in the market, with Crysencio Summerville among the names touted as possible options to make the switch.
But while speaking on talkSPORT, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed that there is a man above the Netherlands international on their shortlist, following Man Utd opening talks for the West Ham star.
“Talks are now underway directly between West Ham United and Manchester United for Crysencio Summerville, who’s just getting back from the World Cup, and don’t forget that Tottenham have looked at him in the past as well,” he said.
“Their primary focus is Savinho. Let’s see whether the Manchester City board choose to sanction that deal or not.”
Savinho has already agreed personal terms ahead of a move to north London and wants to join, but talks continue between the two clubs over a fee. It’s understood that City want around £60m to let the Brazilian leave.
⚽
England World Cup Quiz
You scored
out of 20
Savinho Could Be Next In The Door
Savinho arrived at Man City from Troyes in 2024 after a terrific spell in La Liga on loan at Girona, and immediately excited fans with his tricky footwork, pace and creativity.
It’s not easy to get compliments from Pep Guardiola, but he called the youngster ‘extraordinary’, showing just how talented he is. A lack of regular game time saw his form dip, but De Zerbi is the perfect manager to get that out of his system and get him back to his best.
Spurs are ready to splash the cash, and Savinho is a player who could make a big difference to their attack next season. They’ve set their sights on the deal, and it’s one to pay attention to in the coming weeks as they look to close it.
Deal Off: Tottenham Pull Out of Move to Sign ‘One of the Best’ Midfielders
Tottenham have pulled the plug.
FIFA have been urged to delay an upcoming 2026 World Cup fixture amid an increased risk of “heat related illness or even death” due to a dangerous heat wave.
All matches at this summer’s showpiece international tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico have featured three-minute hydration breaks, one in each half, to allow players to take on fluids in an effort to prevent overheating.
However, hydration breaks may not be sufficient for one upcoming last 16 clash at Lincoln Financial Field, otherwise known as the Philadelphia Stadium at the 2026 World Cup.
Heat Wave Threatens to Impact Last 16 Fixture
Temperatures are set to his record highs in Philadelphia, where Paraguay and France go head-to-head on Saturday.
Per talkSPORT, the heat index, including humidity, is expected to be between 37 and 46 degrees Celsius (100F – 115 Fahrenheit) this weekend.
As things stand, France’s last 16 fixture against Paraguay is scheduled to get underway at 5pm local time (10pm BST). Temperatures are still expected to be dangerously high at this point in the day, sparking concern for players, officials and fans.
FIFA’s current heat guidelines state that matches are at risk of being postponed if the wet bulb temperature reaches 32 C (89 F). There’s currently a high chance this temperature will be exceeded when Kylian Mbappe and co. face their South American opponents at the 67,594-capacity stadium which is home to NFL side Philadelphia Eagles.
“When you’re exerting yourself on a particularly hot day, the likelihood of experiencing heat related illness or even death is much higher,” Bahart Venkat, director of the Heat Lab at the University of California, told the Associated Press.
It’s warned that intense exercise on such a hot day can lead to extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping and dehydration – all symptoms of exertional heat illness.
You scored
out of 20
FIFA Urged to Push Kick-Off Time Back
Journalist Ian Nicholas Quillen has written an article for Forbes, urging FIFA to delay kick-off for Paraguay vs France.
“Let’s start with the obvious: This was entirely predictable when FIFA decided to engage in wishful thinking and schedule knockout phase matches outdoors on the East Coast during the middle of the day,” Quillen writes.
“Put bluntly, playing this fixture at its scheduled time will put players, fans and match officials at unnecessary risk. And even for TV viewers in the comfort of their own homes, it will significantly impact the product on the field.”
He adds: “But FIFA can still rectify its own mistake with relatively minimal consequences by preemptively delaying kick-off until the evening.”
Pushing the kick-off time back would mean “conditions would become considerably more playable just by delaying matches a few hours until the evening, when at least the impact of the sun could be mitigated.”
He warns that FIFA may find themselves in a similar predicament later in the knockout stages due to the risk of another heat wave impacting the north-east of the United States this month.
Wike national leader of PDP’s winning faction – Akpabio
What She Said to Wimbledon Bosses About Banned Palestine Pin
2027: Choice of Amaechi as running mate will cost Atiku presidential victory – Analysts
Simi Sanya and Femi Dapson Are Now Legally Married and It Is Beautiful to See
FCT Area Council Election: Live results from polling units
Premier League Set-Piece Goals (2025/2026)
-
Sports2 days agoGary Neville Names Only Team That Can Stop France From Winning the 2026 World Cup
-
Sports1 day agoVAR Expert Casts Clear Verdict on Folarin Balogun Red Card vs Bosnia
-
Sports1 day agoReal Reason Serena Williams Broke Strict Rule as $50,000 Fine Decision Made
-
Sports9 hours agoFIFA Release Statement After VAR Call During Portugal 2-1 Croatia
-
Sports7 hours agoCroatia’s Igor Matanovic Praised For Interview After Goal v Portugal is Ruled Out
-
Sports8 hours agoPiers Morgan Slams BBC Commentators For Cristiano Ronaldo Treatment
-
Sports24 hours agoUS Icon Brad Friedel Blasts Mexico Ahead of England Match
-
Sports2 days agoRoy Keane Names the Two Teams That Will Contest the 2026 World Cup Final