Saturday's costly draw at West Ham included an ugly moment between Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and forward Mo Salah on the touchline.
Salah was the centre of everything Liverpool did going forward during the first half of the season, scoring 14 goals in his first 20 Premier League games before departing to play for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Since his return, the 31-year-old has struggled for form, scoring just three Premier League goals as the side's title charge has begun to crumble.
For Saturday's trip to the London Stadium, Salah was benched for the second time in three games, having put in a poor performance in the derby defeat at Goodison on Wednesday night.
The incident with his manager came when Salah was introduced with just over ten minutes left to play. As he waited to be introduced alongside Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez, Salah appeared to avoid the approach of Klopp for an embrace, before an angry exchange of words played out.
Liverpool would go on to concede a late equaliser to Michail Antonio, with Salah criticised at full-time not only for his antics but for his performance when he was introduced late in the game.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Premier League winner Chris Sutton slated the Egyptian for his role in the clash with Klopp, saying the onus fell on him and that his antics were unacceptable.
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Chris Sutton calls out Mo Salah's antics in clash with Jurgen Klopp
Sutton was asked for his take on who was to blame for the spat on the touchline in London on Saturday and stated unequivocally that Mo Salah should shoulder responsibility.
The ex-Blackburn and Chelsea striker told the BBC that Salah had "crossed a line" and that his place on the bench was justified based on recent form:
I didn't like it but I think Mo Salah is the one who was out of order. He is no different to any of his Liverpool teammates and the truth is his form hasn't been good since he has come back from the injury.
It's nothing against Salah and the brilliant player he has been at Liverpool - he has been phenomenal. But I think there is a line and unfortunately for him he crossed it.
You can't live in the past. It is the here and now and Klopp decided to leave him out. That is his prerogative, he is the manager and Salah is no different to the rest of his teammates.
Salah did appear to be the instigator of the touchline tension and his frustration would most reasonably appear to be at his slowly shifting role in the team.
The incident was exacerbated after Salah continued the feud in the mixed zone post-match, saying to the assembled media, "If I speak today, there will be fire."
Given the positive vibrations exuded by Jurgen Klopp and his relationship with the Liverpool players during his reign, the incident on Saturday was certainly surprising in the closing stages of his time in charge.
With doubts pervading about whether Mo Salah will follow the German out the door this summer, fans of the club will hope that their apparent bad blood can be put to bed sooner rather than later.
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