Mohamed Salah was forced to watch on from the bench as Liverpool beat West Ham United 2-0.
Salah has been slammed by several former players for his form this season, with Wayne Rooney in particular a vocal critic.
The reason for the Liverpool winger’s decline in 2025/26 does seem pretty clear, especially when looking back at last season and how Arne Slot was not making him defend nearly as much.
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Regardless, Slot made the bold call to bench the Egyptian for Liverpool’s win over West Ham.
Who was your man of the match during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham? 
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images Alan Shearer verdict on Mohamed Salah not playing vs West Ham
Alexander Isak opened the scoring on Sunday before Cody Gakpo killed the tie off late on.
Even after Isak made it 1-0, Slot did not turn to Salah, leaving him on the bench for the full 90 minutes.
On the back of this surprise decision, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer, has told the 33-year-old he cannot complain.
Speaking on the BBC post-match, he said: “It was a big call by Slot to leave Salah out today but I guess it is made easier by Liverpool’s results – when things aren’t going for you, you have to make big decisions.
“And that was a big one today because of what he’s done for Liverpool in the past, but Salah can’t complain because he hasn’t been playing well, and when that’s the case, then you have to accept the decision.
“It has worked for Liverpool… and it has worked for Isak too, because he was the difference today.”
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesWhen will Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool for AFCON
Liverpool are back in Premier League action against Sunderland this coming Wednesday before a trip to Elland Road on December 6.
Prior to the Leeds United game, Egypt have a FIFA Arab Cup game on December 2 against Kuwait before taking on the United Arab Emirates next Saturday.
Their AFCON campaign will officially get underway on December 22 versus Zimbabwe, with Salah expected to be called up 14 days prior.
Should Salah’s team make it all the way to the final of the competition, he could be competing for his country until January 18, 2026.
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