Though he thrived under the German, it is said that Klopp and Salah were never close, and that there was simply respect between the two. Eventually, tensions rose after Salah did Q&A with a Spanish newspaper in 2020 in which he fumed over not being named captain for a Champions League match.
Later down the line, after Salah questioned Klopp's coaching methods after defeat to Everton, he was dropped to the bench, while they were seen having an argument during a draw with West Ham.
Similar incidents occurred with winger Mane. When Salah arrived at Liverpool, the two were close, but over time, Mane began to feel overshadowed and under-appreciated due to the Egyptian's brilliant goal-scoring form, and this eventually boiled over on the pitch.
In a well publicised incident against Burnley, Salah opted to selfishly go for goal himself rather than shift the ball to Mane, who was in a better position. Furious, Mane verbally attacked Salah, and Klopp's decision to substitute the Senegal international moments later only heightened tensions. The tense relationship between the two African wingers eventually contributed to Mane leaving Liverpool in favour of a move to Bayern Munich.