Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was named as a substitute against West Ham United on Sunday
Mohamed Salah was named as a Premier League substitute for the first time in more than a year at the weekend(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah will feel he has a point to prove after being benched for a Premier League game for the first time in more than a year. The Liverpool hero was forced to watch on as the Reds recorded a much-needed 2-0 win over West Ham United.
It was the first time that Arne Slot dropped Salah for a league match and the iconic forward had a fiery response when he was last named on the bench in the Premier League over a year ago. In April 2024, Jurgen Klopp chose to rest Salah after a similar period of poor form by his own standards, coincidentally also away at West Ham.
Unlike at the weekend, Klopp chose to bring Salah on as a substitute. However, as he waited to be introduced, West Ham equalised to make the game 2-2 and this soon led to a verbal spat between the winger and his manager.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez stepped in to distance Salah from Klopp but the incident was caught on camera. Unfortunately for the Reds, it did not result in a game-changing moment, with Klopp’s side forced to settle for a point, which further dented their title hopes.
When asked about the incident, Klopp played down their argument: “No [I can’t say what was said], but we spoke about it already in the dressing room. For me, it’s done.” However, Salah’s comments suggested the issue had not been fully resolved.
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As he walked past reporters in the mixed zone, Salah said: “If I speak, there will be fire.” Those words demonstrated that Salah was not ready to step away from being Liverpool’s best player and Slot will hope his decision to bench him can ignite a similar spark.
The clash with Klopp came the day after Slot had been named as the manager’s successor. Salah more than proved his worth under the new boss last season, scoring 29 in 38 league games to fire Liverpool to their second Premier League title.
However, Salah has been unable to lift Liverpool out of their recent slump. Slot’s team had lost nine of their last 12 before their triumph over West Ham, with Salah finding the net just twice during that run.
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Salah is yet to respond to being benched by Slot but the decision could provide the extra drive required to inspire a return to form. Liverpool will hope their talisman can push them up the table before he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations later this month. The Reds start December in eighth place, nine points off leaders Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Slot has insisted his decision to drop Salah was to rotate his team ahead of a busy schedule. “We have more players on the bench than just Mo, but I understand why you ask the question,” he told Sky Sports.
Salah enjoyed his first season under Arne Slot(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“We’re playing four games in 10 days. I have many good players, so today I chose this line-up. Sometimes [Alexander] Isak has been on the bench, sometimes [Florian] Wirtz, so I understand why it’s about the players on the bench, but it’s also about those that start.
“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 [Hugo] Etikite.”
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