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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the club\u2019s stance would not waver on Mohamed Salah, despite speculation of a potential world-record bid for the forward arriving this week.<\/p>\n
The club rejected a \u00a3150million deal for the 31-year-old from Saudi Arabia\u2019s Al-Ittihad on Friday and said at the time, they considered the matter closed.<\/p>\n
That has not prevented suggestions the Pro League champions are prepared to return with a bid of around \u00a3200m but Klopp said even though the Saudi transfer window remained open until Thursday, the position of owners Fenway Sports Group would not change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realise a little bit of a distraction in the whole week, besides answering questions about it \u2013 not from people inside (the club) but people outside,\u201d said Klopp after his side\u2019s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa in which Salah scored the third after Dominik Szoboszlai\u2019s first goal for the club was followed by Matty Cash putting through his own net.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no clue, nobody came to me and told me something could happen or whatever. I\u2019m pretty sure I would have got a call but I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAnd Mo didn\u2019t look for a second like he thought about anything else other than about Aston Villa, being involved in all the goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has unbelievable numbers but it\u2019s not a surprise that he has the numbers. And he had chances on top of that and (is) involved in creating and setting up and all these kind of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a world-class player, no doubt about that and I\u2019m really pleased he is in my team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Szoboszlai said in a post-match television interview to that Salah wanted to stay.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know it is football, everyone is talking. We are really happy that he has stayed,\u201d said the Hungary captain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are of course speaking between each other but he wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy \u2013 we need people in the team like him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Klopp was asked whether Salah had conveyed that message to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. He didn\u2019t tell me, but he didn\u2019t have to. He speaks with his training and performances and behaviour,\u201d he added, after admitting the only downside to the afternoon was a hamstring injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold which was likely to rule him out of England duty in the coming international break.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had meetings this week and the meetings were not about what we did in the past, it was about what we will do in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cMo was with the players\u2019 (leadership) committee and had his moments where he was talking and it was nothing like \u2018By the way, this is only until next week\u2019 or whatever.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is completely here and if Dom said that, fine. Mo doesn\u2019t have to come into my office and tell me \u2018By the way, boss\u2026 (I\u2019m not going)\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it wasn\u2019t a subject for one second, to be honest, besides the questions (from the media).\u201d<\/p>\n
Villa were never really in the game after Cash\u2019s 22nd-minute own goal, and head coach Unai Emery admitted \u2013 after conceding three in the last half-hour at Newcastle on the opening weekend \u2013 he was conscious of getting torn apart at Anfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult to win here and first half was the key. We had chances, we were not clinical and 2-0 was not really the result we deserved for the first half,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSecond half we stuck to our gameplan and they scored the third goal and it was match finished.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to be focused because here, like in Newcastle, we lost the last 30 minutes and we didn\u2019t want it today. I can\u2019t accept to let them have more goals.\u201d<\/p>\n