Liverpool have fallen further out of contention for the Premier League title – but that’s perhaps the least of Jurgen Klopp’s problems.

Just as upsetting for the outgoing Liverpool manager in a 2-2 draw with West Ham may have been a touchline confrontation with his star forward, Mohamed Salah that Klopp tried to downplay after Saturday’s match.

Salah, not so much. “There’s going to be fire today if I speak,” the Egypt winger was heard telling journalists as he left London Stadium.

The incident happened as Salah was preparing to enter as a substitute soon after Michail Antonio’s 77th-minute equaliser for West Ham.

It was the second time in Liverpool’s last three games Salah has been benched, an unusual position for one of the club’s greatest goalscorers who has rarely been dropped in his time at Anfield.

Klopp was tightlipped about the incident: “I’m not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all. We spoke already in the dressing room. For me, that’s done.

“We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”

Whether Salah remains at Liverpool beyond this season remains to be seen – he was linked heavily with a move to Saudi Arabia last year – but Klopp is leaving and, with three games left in the league, his successful Liverpool tenure might be ending on a sour note.

This latest setback came after recent losses to Crystal Palace and Everton, and left the team third – two points behind Arsenal and one off Manchester City. Both have games in hand over Liverpool.

“Do they look like they will lose two or three games?” Klopp said of Arsenal and City.

“No, I don’t think so. But honestly, I am not angry or whatever. I don’t think about it.”

While Liverpool’s title dreams look remote, Sheffield United’s faint chances of staying up are officially over.

A 5-1 loss at Newcastle confirmed the Blades as the first team to be relegated from the top-flight this season.

“We have not been good enough,” manager Chris Wilder said.

“The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.”

Newcastle, in seventh, closed the gap on Manchester United to one point and look like securing qualification for a European competition next season.

Alexander Isak scored two of Newcastle’s goals to take his season’s tally to 19.

There were more jeers for Manchester United and under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag in a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Burnley.

Substitute Zeki Amdouni’s 87th-minute penalty – earned after he was bundled over by United goalkeeper Andre Onana – cancelled out Antony’s goal in the 79th and secured a draw for next-to-last Burnley, who remain two points from safety.

Aston Villa’s push for Champions League qualification was dented by squandering a two-goal lead over Chelsea and drawing 2-2 at home.

Villa, in fourth, moved seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham with three games left.

Spurs have three games in hand, starting with Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday. They also must play Manchester City and Liverpool in a tough run-in.

Second-half goals by Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher earned a point for Chelsea, who had a stoppage-time header from Axel Disasi overturned after a VAR review.

Everton ensured a 71st straight year in England’s top division by beating Brentford 1-0, a win eked out through Idrissa Gueye’s 60th minute goal.

Luton lost at Wolverhampton 2-1 to stay in the relegation zone, one point adrift of Nottingham Forest, who play Man City on Sunday. Fulham and Crystal Palace drew 1-1.

with AAP