New Mohamed Salah vs Jürgen Klopp footage appears to show what started argument

In truth, it would be strange if tempers were not frayed around the Liverpool camp right now. Jürgen Klopp will not get the send-off he so richly deserves, while a season that promised so much for the players too will now end with only a Carabao Cup.

In time, perspective will kick in. At least Klopp was able to win that trophy in his farewell year, and anyone at Wembley can tell you how special it was. Even away from the narrative about the manager, Trent Alexander-Arnold has said before that he feels there should be a one-trophy-per-season minimum, a standard Liverpool has met despite having struggled so badly in the last campaign.

But in the moment, with the title having now slipped away, joining the Europa League and the FA Cup on the pile of what-ifs, there is a huge degree of frustration. That boiled over with Klopp and Mohamed Salah, as they argued on the sidelines against West Ham.

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp gives new Arne Slot assessment after Liverpool 'agrees deal' for new manager

READ MORE: David Moyes makes Jürgen Klopp admission after final game vs Liverpool boss - 'I hate saying it'

Strangely, the disagreement happened while Liverpool was leading, although West Ham equalized before Salah even had a chance to get on the pitch. As Klopp prepared to send him on, words were exchanged, and Darwin Núñez eventually had to step in to try and keep them apart.

Various theories have been espoused. Jamie Carragher pointed out that a manager would only usually be annoyed in these circumstances if a player took too long getting ready.

But in footage posted to X, an angle from the stands shows more of the exchange between Salah and Klopp, and appears to shed some light on what set things off. At the very least, it has sparked another theory.

With Salah summoned from the bench, Klopp is shown going to shake the forward's hand. But the Egyptian walks around the back of the fourth official, seemingly avoiding his manager, before finally accepting the gesture a few seconds later in a cursory fashion.

Klopp then says something, to which Salah responds with an exasperated shrug. The manager then exchanges words with his other substitutes before the spat with Salah carries on.

It's hardly conclusive, but the likeliest story is that Salah was upset with Klopp for not starting him, and then taking so long to put him on. As such, he semi-snubbed the handshake, which all needlessly escalated.

Liverpool.com says: Klopp played the incident down after the game, and it does really seem like something of nothing. It's not the best of looks for Salah, but in the heat of the moment, these things happen.

Hopefully any damage is quickly repaired. Liverpool may not have anything more to play for, but Salah and Klopp parting on anything other than the best of terms after they defined an era together would be all wrong.