English Premiership

Salah can cope with hectic schedule - Klopp

2018-05-11 21:08

London - Jurgen Klopp insists Mohamed Salah won't lose focus despite the increased demands on the Liverpool star at the climax of his record-breaking season.

Reds boss Klopp is frustrated that Salah had to fly to London to receive the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award on Thursday, just hours after being presented with Liverpool's own Player of the Year prize.

Salah, who is also the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year, has not managed to add to his 43 goals this season in the last three matches and looked tired in Liverpool's defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.

Liverpool need a point against Brighton on Sunday to seal the Premier League top four finish that guarantees entry into next season's Champions League before turning their attention to the European Cup final against Real Madrid.

Salah is clearly the key to Liverpool's success in those two crucial matches after scoring 43 goals in an astonishing first season following his move from Roma.

While Klopp admits Salah could have done without the additional non-football workload, he expects the Egypt winger to cope with the stress.

"It is quite difficult for a player because there are some many challenges constantly," Klopp said on Friday.

"Yesterday we had our LFC Awards - good timing. The next challenge was the journalists (the FWA dinner).

"I know it was a very important award but to bring the boy again, on a Thursday night before the last game, to London to celebrate a party when we are not partying.

"It is not perfect and as a manager I would prefer he went home after work and put his legs up on the sofa watching a movie or going early to bed but he was early to bed, we organised it as good as possible.

"Problems are always problems if you are surprised and you think 'Oh, I had no clue about that'.

"But it is perfectly planned always and the club is doing a world-class job in organising everything so it is as smooth as possible."

Klopp has tried to keep his players' concentrated on the Brighton clash, but he acknowledged the awards season has become something of a distraction.

"You want to be really focused. The season now for most of the teams in the league is a nice time but for us it is work," he said.

NEXT ON SPORT24X

What To Read Next

 

Read News24’s Comments Policy

Live Video Streaming
Video Highlights

Fixtures
Sunday, 13 May 2018
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion, Anfield 16:00
Swansea City v Stoke City, Liberty Stadium 16:00
West Ham United v Everton, London Stadium 16:00
Manchester United v Watford, Old Trafford 16:00
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion, Selhurst Park 16:00
Newcastle United v Chelsea, St. James' Park 16:00
Southampton v Manchester City, St. Mary's Stadium 16:00
Huddersfield Town v Arsenal, The John Smith's Stadium 16:00
Burnley v AFC Bournemouth, Turf Moor 16:00
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City, Wembley Stadium 16:00
Logs
Team P W PTS
Previous Results

Date Home Team Result Away Team
Vote

Who will claim the Premier League title at the end of the 2017/18 season?

Men
Women
Love 2 Meet
Sport24 on Twitter

Follow Sport24 news on Twitter

English Premiership flutter

Take Sport24's "expert" tips at your peril...

Featured

The 2017/18 Absa Premiership season is under way. Can Bidvest Wits defend their title? Will Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates emerge victorious? Or will the bookies' favourites, Mamelodi Sundowns, taste success for a record eighth time? Stay glued to Sport24 to find out!

Latest blogs
 

Twitter Follow Sport24 on Twitter

Facebook "Like" Sport24's Facebook page

WIN Enter and win with Sport24!

BlackBerry Stay in the loop on your BlackBerry

RSS Feeds Sport news delivered really simply.

 
There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.