Contract uncertainty was not behind Mohamed Salah’s dip in form – Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the dip in Mohamed Salah’s goal output late last season was more due to the arduous demands placed on the player than speculation over his contract.

The Egypt international scored just eight times – three of which were penalties – in 25 matches after returning to Anfield as a defeated Africa Cup of Nations finalist having scored 23 in 26 prior to his departure.

Salah signed a new three-year deal immediately before his return to pre-season training and looked sharp in last weekend’s FA Community Shield victory over Manchester City, scoring from the spot again.

Klopp insists he did not see a drop in the 30-year-old’s commitment last season and suggested his struggles in front of goal were potentially more likely as a result of disappointments in the AFCON and World Cup play-off failure – both to Senegal.

“Everyone talked about it (the contract) and we are humans but I didn’t see it distracting him a lot to be honest,” said the Reds boss.

“Of course we are all influenced by things around us, we cannot change that. We are not different from other people.

“Mo had one of the most intense seasons ever, with the Africa Cup of Nations and all of our games.

Everyone talked about it (the contract) and we are humans but I didn’t see it distracting him a lot to be honest- Klopp on Salah's attitude last season

“Everyone talks about us playing 63 games and stuff like this, but we had some players who played a tournament in between as well, which is absolutely ridiculous.

“I think last year, around October, November or December, Sadio (Mane) was not scoring much and everyone was talking about that and after he left (for Bayern Munich this summer) it is like ‘Oh my God, how will we survive without