Mohamed Salah of Liverpool arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion
Arne Slot has explained his decision to bench Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's trip to Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egyptian was one of five players to be left out of the Dutchman's starting XI from the side that lost to Manchester United on Sunday.
Instead, the Reds head coach named recalled in attack as the France international faced his former club, with and Cody Gakpo both retaining their places in attack. Florian Wirtz also came into the starting XI, along with Curtis Jones, Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson.
was was asked about his decision to bench ahead of kick-off. And the Dutchman admitted it was a difficult decision, while he also pointed to the enforced absence of through injury as one of the motivating factors behind the switch.
"The first answer is always yes, (it was a difficult decision to make)," he admitted to TNT Sports. "But that is also to do with Mo and all the players I have.
"Every time I select a team, it’s always difficult because I have so many good players. That’s also the reason why I use these players.
"I liked the way we ended the game against United. Mainly the second half. Created a lot of chances.
"And Ryan is out, so that means we have to restructure our midfield a little bit as well - defensively and offensively. So all together with the way Frankfurt usually plays, we decided to start like this.
"But as always, I have players who start the game and I have players who can impact the game off the bench and that is (the case) today as well."
Champions League – Liverpool
Slot also explained his decision to start with both Isak and Ekitike in attack foras hinted at a possible formation change.
"We need to try today again is to create as much chances as we have the last few weeks," he said. "Because that is very helpful that we have two players in the team who can score a goal.
"We are hoping and expecting Jeremie Frimpong to create something for these two from the right side and Cody Gakpo trying to do the same off the left, with Florian Wirtz's creativity in and around our two number nines.
"That is looking at how they normally set up, the idea. They can play together. They showed this against United, although it was the second half. But it does mean that our midfield needs to be structured a little bit differently.
"Where we normally play with one six, now we need Curtis and Dom to be a bit more defensively-minded than one of the two normally is."