Liverpool Manager Shuts Down Rumours of Rift Between Two African Stars at the Club

• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reacted to reports of rifts between his two stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane
• Rumours went rife that the two are not on good terms after Sadio Mane led his Senegal team to the World Cup over Salah's Egypt
• Sadio Mane also starred as Senegal defeated the Pharaohs to win the Africa Cup of Nations early this year

Jurgen Klopp has rejected claims that the relationship between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane has deteriorated because of their match ups at international level.

Sadio Mane twice led his Senegalese team to success against Mohamed Salah's Egypt, including beating the Pharaohs in the World Cup play-offs in midweek.

Klopp started Salah ahead of Mane in their game against Watford on Saturday, fueling more speculation but the German trainer quickly reacted, insisting the duo have respect for each other.

"No, they are not rivals," he said. "You play together in a team and both want to score goals. That is normal. We want them to score goals," he continued as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Key milestones of the Ivory Coast national football team

Football

"Yes, there are situations where one doesn't see the other and doesn't finish the situation off and then we immediately say, "what is the reason for that?"

"(But) there is nothing. That is how it is. We are human beings and from time to time we make wrong decisions, but it is nothing personal.

"We just want to score a goal and realize a little bit later it was the wrong decision. It has nothing to do with any kind of rivalry with another player on your team, it is just the wrong decision."

Liverpool cruise to victory against Watford

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Liverpool boosted their Premier League title chance after a commanding performance against Watford took the Reds to the summit of the league table.

Jurgen Klopp had named a strong lineup as Liverpool seek a 10th straight win in the league with Mo' Salah starting upfront alongside Diogo Jota and Roberto Firminho.

Diogo Jota would give Liverpool an early first-half lead to calm the nerves of the Anfield faithful after a cooly-headed finish from a Joe Gomes cross.