Mohamed Salah latest
Mohamed Salah latest
Mohamed Salah has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s clash with West Ham, with Arne Slot making four major changes as the Reds search for a way out of their poor run of form.
Mohamed Salah on the bench is never a sight Liverpool fans expect to see — and today’s team news has raised more questions than answers.
Arne Slot has made bold calls before, but this one feels different. With Liverpool’s form slipping and pressure rising, the decision to leave Salah out of the starting XI comes at a key moment.
There is more to this move than just rotation, and the reasoning reveals the growing urgency around the team.
Liverpool confirmed four changes from the side that lost 4-1 to PSV. Alisson returns in goal. Joe Gomez starts his first Premier League game of the season.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz also step in. But all eyes are on one thing: Salah dropped. That decision alone has created the biggest talking point of the day.
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West Ham vs Liverpool: Premier League 2025/26
Why did Slot bench Salah today?
According to reports, this is a tactical call rather than an injury issue. Salah is fully fit and is among the substitutes. Slot wants fresh energy in the front line and apparently believes Liverpool need a different attacking shape to break their slump.
Salah has still been one of Liverpool’s brightest players this season, but even he has been affected by the team’s recent struggles. With nine defeats in the last 12 games, Slot reportedly felt the squad needed a “reset” in the final third.
This approach also allows Slot to try Wirtz on the right side — a role that the staff believes could unlock his creativity in a new way.
Is this discipline, rotation or something deeper?
This is where the suspense begins. Liverpool have looked out of rhythm for weeks, and Slot has been under fire for his team selections. Today feels like a message to the squad: places are not guaranteed, even for the biggest stars.
Some insiders suggest that Slot wants Salah to make an impact off the bench if the game becomes tight. Others think Slot simply wants to remove pressure from the frontline and spread responsibility more evenly.
Whatever the reason, benching Salah is a move that will spark debate long after the final whistle.
How will Liverpool line up without Salah?
Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo start in attack. Wirtz could play as a No. 10, in a narrow front three, or even as a right winger. That uncertainty itself is part of Slot’s plan. It keeps West Ham guessing and lets Liverpool experiment with different combinations.
Joe Gomez starts at right back, which creates a brand-new partnership on that flank. Alisson returns between the posts after illness, replacing Mamardashvili who played in the midweek defeat.
Salah is joined on the bench by Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, Andy Robertson and Hugo Ekitike — a strong list if Liverpool need late firepower.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.
What Anfield Home thinks?
Slot’s decision is bold, but not reckless. Rotating Salah today may be the reset Liverpool need, especially with tough games ahead.
Still, a player like Salah rarely stays quiet for long. Expect him to come on, make noise and remind everyone why he is still Liverpool’s main man.