Klopp initially favoured Brandt over Salah, reveals former Liverpool scout

Mohamed Salah’s impact at Liverpool has been nothing short of historic. Yet, in a startling revelation, it has emerged that former manager Jürgen Klopp originally had no intention of signing the Egyptian forward—preferring Julian Brandt instead.

The claim comes from former Liverpool head of research Ian Graham, who disclosed that the German coach’s initial preference was for the then-Bayer Leverkusen winger Brandt, not Salah, who was playing for Roma at the time.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Graham explained how Liverpool’s data-driven recruitment model pointed decisively to Salah. “According to our analysis, Mo was the best young winger in Europe at that time—full stop,” he said.

“Roma were under financial pressure and open to a deal, but Jürgen’s first choice was Julian Brandt. He had been watching him closely in the Bundesliga and naturally trusted the German market, given his background.”

Despite Klopp’s initial leanings, Liverpool’s recruitment team was confident Salah was the superior option. “We already had several quality attacking midfielders in the squad,” Graham added.

“While Brandt was clearly talented, we believed Salah offered more explosiveness, more direct threat, and a better fit for our style of play. To Klopp’s credit, he approached the discussions with an open mind and was willing to be convinced by the data.”

Peter Krawietz, Klopp’s long-serving assistant, corroborated the account. “After a review meeting, once we watched more of Mo’s performances in detail, it became obvious he had something extraordinary. The decision became much clearer.”

That decision proved to be one of the most pivotal in Liverpool’s recent history. Salah arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2017 and made an immediate impact, scoring 32 goals in his debut Premier League season—setting a record for the most goals in a 38-game campaign.

He went on to become the driving force behind Liverpool’s return to glory both domestically and in Europe. Under Klopp, Salah helped the Reds reach back-to-back Champions League finals, lifting the trophy in 2019.

That same year, they added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to their collection, followed by a long-awaited Premier League title in 2020.

In contrast, Brandt’s career trajectory has taken a far less explosive path. Now 28 and still at Borussia Dortmund, the German international has struggled to produce similar numbers.

He has never reached double digits in league goals in a single Bundesliga season and has just three goals to his name in the 2024–25 campaign.

Despite playing a slightly deeper role, Brandt’s combined total of 21 career Bundesliga goals and 83 assists pales next to Salah’s achievements.

The Egyptian has netted 184 Premier League goals—placing him joint-fifth in the competition’s all-time scoring list alongside Sergio Agüero—and boasts 86 assists, all while playing fewer games than Brandt.

Looking back, the idea of a Liverpool side without Salah seems almost unimaginable. But the near-miss underlines the fine margins that shape footballing dynasties.

What could have been a solid, if unremarkable, signing in Brandt became instead one of the club’s greatest success stories—thanks to data, debate, and ultimately, Klopp’s willingness to adapt.