I could feel the tension between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane - I saw the looks
Roberto Firmino has detailed Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane's relationship at Liverpool after the Egyptian revealed all in an interview this week
Roberto Firmino has recalled how he could "feel" the tension between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as it was his job to "pour water on the fire" of any brewing disagreements between the pair at Liverpool.
The trio formed one of the most remarkable forward lines in Anfield history between 2017 and 2022 to help the Reds win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and several other honours.
But despite the resounding success of Jurgen Klopp's side, Salah revealed in an interview with Le Equipe this week that he endured a tense relationship with Mane at Anfield.
“Yes, there was tension with Sadio. Mind you, we were professional until the end; I don’t think it affected the team," said the Egyptian.
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Three years on from Mane's Anfield exit, Salah's comments come as no surprise after the public confrontation between the pair during Liverpool's victory over Burnley in August 2019.
The Reds travelled to Turf Moor in the fourth game of the 2019/20 season and, having already defeated Norwich City, Southampton and Arsenal, Klopp's men were looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
However, after goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Salah had the Reds on course for all three points in Lancashire, Mane let his emotions get the better of him when he was substituted by Klopp in the 85th minute.
The Senegal international cut an emotional and animated figure as he headed for the away dugout and had to be calmed down by vice-captain James Milner and Firmino, with the forward seemingly frustrated at Salah's decision not to pass to him minutes earlier.
When speaking to reporters after the game, Klopp, whose side had just moved top of the Premier League, was keen to play down the severity of Mane's outburst and insisted the incident had been addressed quickly and "everything is fine".
But when detailing Salah and Mane's relationship in his book in November 2023, Firmino, who played over 300 games for the Reds, admitted tensions between the pair had been brewing since the 2018-19 season, when Liverpool won the Champions League.
Recalling the incident at Turf Moor, the Brazilian said: "The cameras caught everything. Sadio wasn’t only angry about being subbed off: a little earlier Mohamed Salah had attempted a shot on goal when he had a clear pass on to Mane, who was free inside the box.
"Well, my English isn’t wonderful, so I can’t tell you exactly what Mané shouted when he came off. But it wasn’t anything nice! James Milner tried to calm him down, but Sadio remained furious, sitting fuming on the bench, gesturing repeatedly.
"I knew those guys very well, maybe better than anyone. It was me out there on the field, right in the middle of them. I saw first-hand the looks, the grimaces, the body language, the dissatisfaction when one was mad at the other.
"I could feel it. I was the link between them in our attacking play and the firefighter in those moments. For many, that disagreement between Sadio and Mo was the first; for some, the first and last. But I knew it had been brewing since the previous season, 2018–19.
"My instinct and my duty was to defuse the situation between them. Pour water on the fire – never petrol.
"Tense moments usually passed quickly. In the next game, one would be passing the ball to the other – or passing it to me, who would then pass it to the other – and we’d be celebrating another goal for our team.
"Salah and Mané had had their little problems before, but that time everything happened on the field, there for the world to see. That day, at Burnley, the lid came off."
But despite the clear tension between the two forwards, Firmino insisted both players acted with "the utmost professionalism"
"They were never best friends; each kept himself to himself," continued Firmino. "It was rare to see the two of them talking and I’m not sure if that had to do with the Egypt–Senegal rivalry in African competitions. I truly don’t know. But they also never stopped talking, never severed ties. They always acted with the utmost professionalism.
"I never took sides. That’s why they love me: I always passed the ball to both; my preference was for the team’s victory. Many focus on what I brought to the attacking trio in tactical terms, but perhaps just as important was the human element: my role as peacemaker, unifier. If I didn’t do that, it would be nothing but storms between the two of them on the field."

Liverpool FC has launched its Premier League champions range after winning its 20th league title.
Fans can pick up items including the 24/25 Home Stadium Jersey with 'Champions 20' printing or 'Champions 24/25' today.