Liverpool fans will never forget their 3-0 victory over Burnley during the 2019/20 season — not just for the result, but for the heated clash between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. The incident occurred when Salah opted to shoot instead of passing to Mane, who was unmarked and in a better position to score.
Mane’s frustration boiled over as he was substituted, throwing his training shirt to the ground and angrily gesturing toward Salah on the bench. The moment sparked speculation about a rift between the two forwards, with many believing their relationship was never quite the same afterward.
In his new book, Si Señor: My Liverpool Years, Roberto Firmino — the third member of the iconic attacking trio — sheds light on the dynamic between Salah and Mane, revealing behind-the-scenes tensions and how Jurgen Klopp had to step in following the Burnley incident.
Firmino explained that while there were occasional disputes, they rarely lasted long.
> “Tense moments usually passed quickly,” he wrote. “By the next game, one would be passing to the other — or to me, and I’d pass to them — and we’d all celebrate another goal together.
Salah and Mane had experienced minor issues before, but at Burnley, everything played out in public for everyone to see. That day, the lid came off.
Their argument wasn’t funny and could have caused real problems for us. The Boss [Jurgen Klopp] and others were understandably concerned.”
Firmino admitted that Salah and Mane were never particularly close off the pitch, rarely seen talking, though he couldn’t say for certain whether this was influenced by their national team rivalry with Egypt and Senegal.
> “They weren’t best friends, but they were always professional,” Firmino continued. “They never completely stopped communicating, and their focus remained on the team.
Salah did have a tendency to frustrate teammates by not passing when he should have. I learned how to deal with it better than most.”
According to Firmino, Klopp addressed the issue openly in front of the squad, making it clear that the ball must be passed to a teammate in a better position — a message clearly aimed at Salah.
> “Over time,” Firmino concluded, “Salah really improved this part of his game.”
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