Referee Anthony Taylor and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister. Photo / Getty Images
Referee Anthony Taylor and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister. Photo / Getty Images
Liverpool fell further out of contention for the English Premier League title. That’s perhaps the least of Jurgen Klopp’s problems.
Just as upsetting for the outgoing Liverpool manager in a 2-2 draw with West Ham might be a touchline confrontation with his star forward, Mohamed Salah, that Klopp tried to downplay after the match.
The incident happened as Salah was preparing to enter as a substitute soon after Michail Antonio’s 77th-minute equalizer. It was the second time in Liverpool’s last three games that Salah has been benched, an unusual position for one of the club’s greatest scorers who has rarely been dropped in his time at Anfield.
Whether Salah remains at Liverpool beyond this season remains to be seen - he was linked heavily with a move to Saudi Arabia last year - but Klopp is sure to be going.
With three games left in the league, his successful Liverpool tenure might be ending on a sour note.
This latest setback came after recent losses to Crystal Palace and Everton, and left the team in third place - two points behind Arsenal and one off Manchester City. They both have games in hand over Liverpool.
Elsewhere, Zeki Amdouni’s 87th-minute penalty earned relegation-threatened Burnley a 1-1 draw at Manchester United to increase the spotlight on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag and his stuttering team.
Old Trafford has been a happy hunting ground down the years for Manchester City great Vincent Kompany, and his Burnley team made the short journey looking to boost their faint hopes of English Premier League survival.
Harry Maguire, Casemiro and Andre Onana react during Manchester United's draw against Burnley. Photo / Getty Images
Antony looked to have pushed Burnley further toward the drop with a 79th-minute opener, only for the otherwise impressive United goalkeeper Andre Onana to give away a late penalty that was converted by Amdouni.
There were boos at the fulltime whistle from some of the home faithful at Old Trafford, where the travelling support applauded their players’ efforts as they continue to scrap for survival.
Bruno Fernandes hit a post during a bright United start, but Burnley grew into the game and Onana’s spectacular reaction stopped Lyle Foster’s header.
United’s bid for Champions League qualification is all but over, with ten Hag’s sixth-placed team just one point above Newcastle in seventh.
Next-to-last Burnley moved two points from safety, but Nottingham Forest - occupying the spot just above the relegation zone - have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Chelsea 2-2, denting their push for Champions League qualification.
It could have been even worse for Villa as Chelsea thought it grabbed a winner through substitute Axel Disasi in stoppage time. The goal was ruled out for a push in the build-up and that angered Chelsea’s players, who surrounded the referee after the final whistle.
Villa built a 2-0 cushion by halftime after an own-goal by Marc Cucurella in the fourth minute and a strike by Morgan Rogers in the 42nd.
Chelsea dominated the second half, with Noni Madueke reducing the deficit in the 62nd and Conor Gallagher curling in from the edge of the area for an equalizer in the 81st.
Villa, who are fourth, moved seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham and have three games left. Spurs have three games in hand on Villa but have the much tougher run-in, which includes matches against Arsenal as well as Liverpool and Manchester City.
Villa are looking to qualify for the Champions League for the first time. They were European champion in 1982, when Europe’s top competition was called the European Cup. The draw guaranteed Villa at least a place in next season’s Europa League.
Big-spending Chelsea stay in ninth place but also has games in hand over the teams they’re battling with for qualification for the minor European competitions next season.
