Mo Salah
Mohamed Salah, a pivotal figure in Liverpool’s recent history, found himself on the bench during the Reds’ 2-0 victory over West Ham United. This marked the first time since April 2024 that Salah was named a substitute in a Premier League match, and he remained unused throughout the game. Liverpool manager Arne Slot made the decision to bench the Egyptian star following a series of underwhelming performances that contributed to the team’s alarming slide down the league table, with nine losses in their last 12 games. As Salah approaches the final 18 months of his contract, speculation is rife regarding Liverpool’s future plans for their attacking lineup.
Arne Slot said: “I prefer to see Mo on the pitch, scoring his goals and doing something special, rather than the camera being on him when he isn’t in the game. The reaction of every player in this group, no matter whether he’s playing or not playing, is to bring the best out of yourself every single day you are in this building and when we are playing. That’s exactly the attitude he showed on Sunday and Monday as well. He was good in training, as were all the others.”
Arne Slot continued: “I don’t see Dominik as a right-winger for the long-term future in this club. Dominik is a midfielder who could help us out as a full-back or as a winger if needed. But he’s more of a midfielder than he is a full-back or winger. I don’t expect to be in February and March and every single game Dominik is playing there. A thing that was important for me to do is that in some other games we were going more man-to-man than in this game (against West Ham), so the last line of four could stay more in place. Dominik as we all know runs for two, and that was helpful in that game. (But) in the long-term future, we should have wingers playing as wingers, midfielders playing as midfielders and defenders playing as defenders.”
Slot’s decision to drop Salah was not taken lightly, as the manager seeks to rejuvenate the squad’s performance. Salah’s response to being benched has been positive, with Slot praising his attitude and performance in training sessions following the decision. The manager’s comments suggest a tactical reshuffle, with Dominik Szoboszlai stepping in on the right flank against West Ham. However, Slot made it clear that Szoboszlai is not seen as a permanent solution for the winger position, indicating a potential shift in Liverpool’s tactical setup moving forward.
The Reds are set to face Sunderland next, and Slot’s strategic adjustments will be closely watched as Liverpool aims to regain their form. The manager’s emphasis on players fulfilling their natural roles hints at a more structured approach in the coming fixtures, as Liverpool looks to stabilize their performance and climb back up the Premier League standings.
About The Author
