Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained his decision to substitute Mohamed Salah during their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.
Salah was visibly frustrated after his number went up for him to leave the pitch.
Klopp, speaking after the match, said he did not expect the Egyptian to be happy with his decision.
Salah, who had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, was seeking to score in Liverpool’s first game of the season for the seventh consecutive year.
“I can understand because if Mo scored, it would have been a new record for goals scored in the opening game, but I didn’t think about that. We needed stability, and we needed fresh legs. It was super intense for everybody. That’s all I can say about it; his reaction was absolutely okay.
“When I sub a player and he is jumping into my arms at 1-1 and he is a striker who thinks he will score, I would be really surprised, so that’s absolutely fine,” Klopp said.