Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defends Mohamed Salah over West Ham 'dive' claims


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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed criticism Mohamed Salah has received for the incident in which he won a penalty in Saturday's victory over West Ham.

Hammers manager David Moyes labelled the Egypt international's fall under a tackle from Arthur Masuakua as a "dive" despite the defender making contact.

Salah picked himself up to slot home the spot-kick to equalise just before half-time and that allowed Liverpool to go on and win 2-1 to extend their unbeaten home league run to a record-equalling 63 matches.

“It’s not the sort of football I want to be involved in," said Moyes after the game.

“I think our player stops and throws his arms up because he’s so disappointed about the dive. I’m just disappointed they didn’t turn the decision around."

There has also been criticism of Salah's actions from several pundits, former players and media commentators over the weekend but Klopp was at a loss to explain it.

"What can I say? It was a foul. It was for pretty much everyone who saw it," said Klopp, speaking ahead of their Champions League game against Atalanta on Tuesday. "Believe it or not, I spoke to Mo yesterday morning how he feels and he said he has three knocks and one was from the penalty situation.

"We don't talk much about penalties we don't get yet two days later we are talking still about one we did.

"There was clear contact. So no, I don't understand the criticism."

Klopp, however, was happier with the injury news coming out of the squad ahead of the Group D clash against Serie A side Atalanta.

Joel Matip and Naby Keita have returned to Liverpool first-team training but manager Juergen Klopp is yet to decide if both will be available.

In the last two matches he has had to field the inexperienced Nat Phillips and teenager Rhys Williams at centre-back because of injuries to Virgil Van Dijk, Matip and Fabinho.

"Naby and Joel trained yesterday with the team, full, Thiago [Alcantara]  didn't. So, that's the situation," Klopp said.

"I have really no idea what I do with this information in the moment because yes, they trained, that's good, it's better than if they don't train. But we have to see what we do with it.

"We have another day to make these decisions. A lot of players will be on the plane hopefully, and so decisions will be made late, late, late."

Atalanta, renowned for their high-octane pressing style under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, defied expectations last season to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Klopp said Atalanta are Liverpool's "biggest challenge in Europe so far" and compared the Italian outfit to Premier League rivals Leeds United.

"With all Atalanta have done in the last few years, they are a settled team and they are very difficult to play against," Klopp said.

"They are similar to Leeds in the way they set-up. They are a proper fighting unit. They have all our respect and I know how good they are."

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Gallery: Liverpool's 63 unbeaten games at Anfield

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MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')

Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')

Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Married Malala

Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.

The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.

Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.

RESULT

Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')

Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

The biog

Name: Sari Al Zubaidi

Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati

Age: 42

Marital status: single

Favourite drink: drip coffee V60

Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia 

Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude