Ruud Gullit ‘doesn’t understand’ Mohamed Salah’s lack of a celebration after scoring for Liverpool against Red Star Belgrade.
The Egyptian has looked back to his best in the Reds’ past two games, scoring at Huddersfield and netting a brace against Red Star in the Champions League.
Salah’s second, scored from the penalty spot shortly after the break, was his 50th goal for Liverpool in just 65 games, but he did not seem too enthused to score either of his goals.
Mohamed Salah did not look happy despite his first Champions League goal of the season
The Egyptian doubled Liverpool’s lead against Red Star Belgrade shortly before half-time
Depsite accepting the plaudits from his team-mates, Ruud Gullit has questioned his response
Salah has been criticised for some of his displays this season and despite Klopp insisting he is ‘completely fine’, Gullit was worried by his stoney-faced response.
‘I think he scuffed it [his shot] a little bit, but a good scuff,’ the former Dutch international said on beIN SPORTS.
‘It’s not his best foot. But the thing I don’t understand is his reaction, what does it mean?
Salah’s second came from the penalty spot and he was just as reserved in his celebrations
Salah was then taken off with more than 15 minutes remaining despite being on hat-trick
Gullit told beIN SPORTS that Salah’s reaction may have been a statement to his critics
‘You score a goal in the Champions League, he should be happy, it’s almost like – I don’t know, what is it? Is it a statement, like, look I’m still here?
‘He could be happy, I think he could be happy, but I think his reaction is a little bit odd for me because even though he hasn’t scored a lot of goals, it must be a relief.’
Salah scored 44 goals in his first season at Anfield, won the golden boot and was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
But he has looked to be suffering from second-season syndrome this time around, scoring three goals in 11 games prior to the last two fixtures.
Klopp dismissed any notion that Salah was unhappy, despite admitting he hadn’t seen the 26-year-old’s reaction to the strike.
Jurgen Klopp insisted after the game that his star man is fine and that he was happy
Klopp embraced Salah after substituting the Egyptian forward with the game already won
‘He’s completely fine. It’s all good,’ Klopp said.
‘I saw couldn’t see his face (when he scored) but I know he’s fine. I saw his face when I took him off – that was different!’
Salah will be hoping to continue his return to form when Liverpool host Cardiff at the weekend, a team he will want to fill his boots against.