Arne Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah against West Ham and leave him unused signaled a potential shift, offering a glimpse into Liverpool’s future.
According to a report from the Liverpool Echo, new Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a bold selection call on Sunday, dropping key forward Mohamed Salah to the bench for the Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
This marked the first time the Egyptian, who had been an ever-present last season, was named among the substitutes since the Dutchman succeeded Jurgen Klopp.
The decision was made even more noteworthy by the fact that Salah remained an unused substitute, seeing no action in the 2-0 victory which helped the Reds bounce back from heavy successive defeats.
Coincidentally, his last Premier League benching, also away at West Ham in April 2024, resulted in his infamous clash with Klopp, after which the 33-year-old “memorably declared ‘there is going to be fire'” if he spoke to reporters.
This time, there was no drama, with the choice justified by the win and Salah’s recent dip in form, having recorded only four goals and two assists from 12 outings this campaign. Slot downplayed the decision, insisting it was due to the squad’s intense schedule.
He told Sky Sports: “We have more players on the bench than just Mo, but I understand why you ask the question. We’re playing four games in 10 days.”
He added, “It’s not an easy decision, as I have many more than 11 good players – it’s not the first time I haven’t played Mo, just like I’ve decided not to play Isak, Wirtz and Etikite.”
The focus now shifts to Wednesday’s game against Sunderland, where all eyes will be on whether the Egyptian King is recalled to the starting XI.