Liverpool manager Arne Slot recently characterized Mohamed Salah as a “top professional” despite making the decision to drop the forward from the starting lineup for the team’s 2-0 Premier League win against West Ham. This marked the first time Salah had been benched in the league since April 2024. The decision was made amidst concerns over Salah’s scoring form, as the player, who won the Golden Boot last season with 29 goals, had netted only four goals in 12 league games this season.
Salah was also named among the substitutes for the subsequent 1-1 draw against Sunderland, where he came on at half-time, replacing Cody Gakpo. Slot acknowledged that it was a “fair assumption“ that Salah was unhappy about being an unused substitute. The manager stated that disappointment is a “normal reaction” for a player good enough to play for Liverpool. Despite this, Slot praised Salah’s conduct, saying he “handled himself really well” and maintained his discipline, always being a “top professional”.
Captain Virgil van Dijk confirmed that Salah was “disappointed” when he was left out, which Van Dijk stressed was the appropriate reaction, as an issue would exist if he wasn’t unhappy after being benched for two consecutive games. Van Dijk emphasized that Salah remains a “fantastic player” and a crucial leader. He also offered a reminder that no player has “unlimited credit” and everyone must perform, affirming that the manager made the decision for the last two games.
During the West Ham match, Liverpool utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation that included Joe Gomez at right-back, a tactical change that seemingly resulted in the right flank being more solid defensively. While some argue the team looked more solid defensively without Salah, this change also appeared to lead to a lack of creativity going forward in subsequent matches.
The selection decisions come ahead of Salah’s mandatory departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Slot confirmed that Salah is required to leave on 15 December to join Egypt for international duty, adhering to Fifa regulations. His final match for Liverpool before the tournament is expected to be against Brighton on 13 December. If Egypt reaches the AFCON final on 18 January, Salah could miss as many as seven crucial fixtures, including Premier League games against Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal, and Burnley.