Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah on Wednesday night set a new Champions League for the fastest-ever hat-trick in the Reds’ 7-1 victory over Rangers.
The 30-year-old started on the bench for his side’s fourth game in Group A, with boss Jurgen Klopp rather opting to start with Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott in the attack against Rangers at Ibrox.
The Egyptian who was eventually introduced to replace Nunez in the 68th minute and needed just six minutes to complete the fastest-ever hat-trick in the Champions League.
However, the Reds fans were left bemused at full time after Salah picked up the match ball and trudged straight down the tunnel, while the rest of Liverpool’s players, including the substitutes and Klopp, went over to the away section to acknowledge the travelling supporters.
Salah’s decision is likely to raise further questions about his happiness at Liverpool and his actions did not go unnoticed by supporters.
One Liverpool fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Salah sulking and walking off the pitch early. Serious lack of class or respect for his teammates or Rangers.’
Another Liverpool supporter wrote: ‘Salah grabbing the match ball and heading down the tunnel without thanking the travelling fans says a lot about where his head’s at.’
Meanwhile, other Liverpool supporters in comparing Salah’s reaction to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also failed to acknowledge Manchester United’s supporters on several occasions since his return to Old Trafford last year, strangely gave the Red Devils legend a support.
‘Bit odd to see Salah walk straight down the tunnel after full time. At least go and see the fans. If Ronaldo had done that, it would be everywhere,’ one Liverpool supporter wrote.
Another Liverpool supporter commented: ‘So Salah scores a hat trick, grabs the ball then straight down the tunnel, no handshakes, no thanking the fans, poor show, no defence for that Ronaldo-type attitude.’
And Liverpool boss speaking about his decision to bench Salah said: ‘It’s not with half an eye on the weekend.
‘It’s just we just have to realise that we’re in the middle of a very busy period. We cannot force the boys through, we have to make changes.
‘We can do changes and we can make them. Diogo [Jota] was not planned, obviously. That’s why he was in the press conference yesterday. But then you get a call from the medical department, ‘he can play but not too long.’ Oh great.
‘So then we’d rather change somebody else who can play 90 minutes and that’s why he doesn’t start. He’s on the bench and is available.’