“’I can confirm…’ – Arne Slot reveals Mo Salah’s response to being left out on Sunday”
On Sunday, Mo Salah experienced something rare—he spent an entire Premier League match on the substitutes’ bench as Liverpool defeated West Ham. Having featured in nearly every minute of the Reds’ season until now, Salah was notably absent from the starting XI at the London Stadium and wasn’t brought on during the 2-0 victory.
Despite calls from Wayne Rooney to drop the Egyptian due to a relatively quiet goal return—just five goals so far this season—Sky Sports’ Peter Smith described the decision to bench Salah as sending “shockwaves.”
Slot praises Salah’s professionalism
Speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming game against Sunderland, Arne Slot was asked about Salah’s reaction to being left out. The Reds’ manager told Liverpool Echo:
> “It’s natural for a player to be unhappy when he isn’t playing. He wasn’t the only one. But the way he handled it was as expected from a professional. He was very supportive of his teammates and conducted himself really well. You can’t perform at your best every three days if emotions get in the way, but Mo is disciplined. He remains a top professional.”
Salah likely motivated to prove himself
While Slot publicly defended Salah, the player himself will have felt the sting of being dropped. The expectation is that he will accept the decision professionally and aim to reclaim his place in the starting XI.
Slot’s decision also highlighted the depth of Liverpool’s squad and the need for high-level performances from all players. With a congested schedule looming—three matches before next Tuesday—rotation is crucial to manage player workload.
Though Salah may have been disappointed to miss the West Ham game, he is aware that his form has dipped compared to his usual standards. With matches coming thick and fast, it’s expected he will return to the lineup soon.
As Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele noted, the temporary omission could spark added determination from Salah to remind Slot that he remains the team’s key attacking force. Even if he doesn’t start the next match, it’s likely he will feature soon—and he could even make a decisive impact from the bench.
