Micah Richards, who played with Mohamed Salah at Fiorentina in Italy, says the Liverpool ace is being wrongly criticized for his defensive work — when there are actually more important elements of his game missing.
Salah was dropped from the Liverpool starting XI against West Ham United this weekend, and he never came off the bench at the London Stadium. In his absence, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo scored, and Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai played well.
"Pundits now (say), 'Oh, he’s not tracking runners'," Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast. "Mo Salah has never really tracked runners.
"I remember last season, Arne Slot was saying he’s got more of a role where he can stay a little higher. The problem is he’s not scoring as frequently as last season.
"If you’re not scoring, the manager has it within his rights to replace him. It’s a big decision, but the manager’s job is on the line. Going away from home, he probably thought, ‘I need a bit more stability’."
"He hasn’t been scoring goals, he hasn’t been playing well, and when that happens, the manager’s got every right to leave you out," Alan Shearer added. "And when he leaves you out, you have to get a result, and they have done."
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on the substitutes bench during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on the substitutes bench during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium (Image: 2025 Izzy Poles - AMA)
Salah has scored five goals this season but Liverpool looked more solid and well-structured without him in the team against West Ham. That leaves Slot with a big decision to make against Sunderland and Leeds United this week.
"I got this question already a lot," Slot said during his post-match press conference when he was asked about benching Salah.
"It's every time we play a game when I don't play Florian Wirtz, when I don't play Alexander Isak, when I don't play Hugo Ekitike, when I don't play Mo Salah.
"It's about that, which is normal because they're all outstanding players and Mo has had an unbelievable career here at this club — and will have a very good future at this club because he's such a special player.
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"Four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up and you try to pick the best line-up for every single game.
"Today, with the way they set up, with a full-back that is constantly very high and a winger that is constantly inside, I thought this could help the team. Like I said, he has been so important for this club and will be important for this club in the future."
Liverpool.com says: Salah should be fired up after he was taken out of the team. When he comes back in, whether that is against Sunderland or after, he will feel he has a point to prove.