Mohamed Salah was an unused substitute during Liverpool’s game against West Ham.
The Reds got back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 win away to West Ham, with Arne Slot making some bold changes to try and get a result.
One of the things he decided to do was to bench Salah in the Premier League for the first time since he took over, with this really a statement of intent from the Dutchman.
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How the table stands after Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0
Premier League table 3rd-8th 30.11.25
As many would imagine, the Egyptian probably will not be too happy with the decision as he wants to be the key man, just like he has been so often in the past for Liverpool.
However, it is not the first time in his Reds career that he has started on the bench in the league, and how he reacted last time may worry Sunderland fans quite a lot.
Mohamed Salah proved a point last time he was benched
Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against West Ham at the London Stadium
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Ironically, the last time Salah was benched, it came at the London Stadium against West Ham in 2024, right towards the end of Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
He was far from happy either, with this evident when he was about to come on after he was seen arguing with the German manager.
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He got just 11 minutes in that game and many fans, like they are now, were curious as to how he would react in their next game, but it is safe to say he responded perfectly.
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Salah was not happy the last time he was benched in the Premier League…
He started the match against Tottenham, played the full 90 minutes and grabbed a goal and an assist, with his performance silencing any doubters.
Fast forward to now, and he will be looking to prove a point again, with the team who could be on the receiving end this time being Sunderland.
Liverpool face them at Anfield on Wednesday evening, and with games coming thick and fast, Salah might come back into the starting XI to freshen things up.
He also does not have many matches left until he goes away for AFCON, suggesting he will be up for these next few games even more so he can join up with his country in the best form possible.
Liverpool were much better without Mohamed Salah
It seems almost a crime to say that Liverpool were better without Salah in the side against West Ham, but that is, unfortunately, the truth.
Dominik Szoboszlai started on the right instead and made much more of an impact compared to the Egyptian in recent weeks, suggesting he should play there again against Sunderland.
Catch up on the highlights as Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0
Overall, there are not too many changes, if any, Slot really needs to make ahead of this clash, with this one of Liverpool’s better performances so far this season.
He got the balance right, the defence looked much more solid and the attack was a little more free-flowing, indicating that, although he will want to prove a point, Salah should probably start on the bench once again.
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