Liverpool Under Fire: Arne Slot Defends Salah Bench Decision After Sunderland Draw
Arne Slot, The Liverpool manager has had to explain several significant team selections, with Mohamed Salah once again starting on the bench for the club’s Premier League match against Sunderland.
The star Egyptian forward did not even come off the bench during a crucial win against West Ham, which broke his record of featuring in every game under Slot. He did play against Sunderland, but was only introduced at halftime.
Salah, who has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for the Reds, was unable to inspire Liverpool as they dropped valuable points in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
He is unaccustomed to playing a substitute role, having long been a central and influential player at Anfield.
Nevertheless, the 33-year-old will need to get used to periods of rest and squad rotation in the upcoming 2025-26 season, with appearances from the bench expected in both domestic league and Champions League games.
Slot has made various changes to the team in an effort to regain the consistent performance that secured another top-flight title for the club last season.
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The Reason Salah Didn’t Start for Liverpool Against Sunderland
Regarding the decision to omit Mohamed Salah from his initial lineup against Sunderland, Slot informed Sky Sports that his approach was to largely maintain the existing team, seeking to balance continuity with the introduction of fresh personnel.
He emphasized the clear necessity for the entire squad to be utilized this evening, as several players in the starting eleven are not expected to complete the full match duration once more.
Consequently, the contribution of more than just the initial eleven players will be paramount tonight.
He stated that every player has the potential to participate, with Mohamed Salah certainly among those considered, and noted the advantage of having players of Salah’s caliber available as substitutes.
Slot mentioned they had not engaged in an extensive recent conversation, though they discussed matters significantly following the Frankfurt fixture.
He described Salah’s reaction as precisely what one would expect from a highly professional individual. Salah maintains excellent training standards and exhibits a positive disposition towards his colleagues.
Slot concluded by saying that Salah serves as a role model both when actively participating in a match and, currently, by demonstrating appropriate conduct when not selected for the starting lineup.
While the manager has spoken favorably about Salah’s response to being omitted from the starting lineup, a prominent football commentator, Jamie Redknapp, suggests that a separation from the club is becoming inevitable, despite the player having signed a lucrative contract extension only months ago, securing his presence until 2027.
Redknapp articulated that, considering Salah’s standing as a distinguished figure in the league and a club icon, he anticipates an unfavorable conclusion to this situation.
He explained that it will create a challenging predicament for the manager, as a player of such immense talent and vital importance to the team, both on the field and within the dressing room, will not accept remaining as a substitute.
Salah did not sign his recent agreement to gradually end his career but rather to continue playing regularly and consistently.
The commentator expressed considerable astonishment if Salah were to complete the remaining one-and-a-half to two years of his contract, believing that the current circumstances do not improve the situation at all.
He remarked that nothing in football is truly surprising, implying a potential departure either in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer.
He added that the player’s decision would be a significant factor in his future, as he has earned the privilege to dictate his terms.
If Salah finds he is not a guaranteed starter, Redknapp believes he is not one to remain passively and would seek playing opportunities elsewhere, likely still within European football.
While a common assumption might be a move to Saudi Arabia or the United States, given his legendary status in those regions, Redknapp views this as a crucial turning point in the relationship between the player and the club.
He suggested that Salah might feel disappointed, or even held responsible for the current state of affairs.
Nevertheless, the team’s strong performance in his absence, supported by favorable statistics, indicates that no individual is irreplaceable and circumstances evolve, making this a particularly difficult period.
Liverpool currently hold eighth place in the Premier League standings, lagging 11 points behind the top team, Arsenal. Their next match is scheduled for Saturday, when they will visit Leeds.
The manager, Slot, confirmed that he has determined who will start the game at Elland Road but chose not to reveal whether Salah will be included in the first team.
