Arne Slot benches superstar Mohamed Salah! Against West Ham United, the Egyptian is not in the starting eleven for Liverpool FC for the first time this Premier League season. Previously, Salah had been part of the starting lineup in each of the twelve league games.
However, the left-footer is in a form crisis. Recently, experts had already demanded that Slot bench the superstar. Salah remained without a goal or assist in the last four games and was also criticized for a lack of defensive work.
Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, is celebrating his starting eleven comeback after having to sit out two games due to injury.
Slot explains Salah’s bench spot
“Slot makes dramatic decision,” the Daily Mail titled with regard to Salah’s bench spot.
Before the game, Slot downplayed his decision against Salah. “We’re playing four games in ten days. Sometimes Alex (Isak) sits on the bench, sometimes Florian (Wirtz). This is the eleven I chose today,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports . “I have more than eleven good players, and it’s not the first time I’ve decided not to let Mo (Salah) play.”
The left-footer had already been substituted on in the Champions League against Galatasaray and Frankfurt. In the Premier League, however, Salah had been in the Reds’ starting eleven in the last 53 games in a row, not even missing once due to injury. The last time he was on the bench at the start, Jürgen Klopp was still Liverpool’s coach.
Curious: On April 27, 2024, when Salah was only substituted on, the opponent was – just like now – West Ham United.
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