Arne Slot downplayed his decision to bench Mohamed Salah against West Ham United but leaving the Liverpool forward unused was an even more rare occurence
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool warms up during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium
Mohamed Salah was benched for Liverpool's clash at West Ham(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Arne Slot made headlines when naming his Liverpool starting XI to face West Ham United on Sunday as Mohamed Salah was dropped to the Reds' bench. Having been an ever-present in the Premier League last season, it marked the first time the Egyptian had found himself named among the substitutes since the Dutchman had taken over from Jurgen Klopp.
Coincidentally, the last time Salah found himself on the bench for a Premier League outing also came away at West Ham when he infamously clashed with Klopp when about to be introduced as a substitute back in April 2024.
When walking through the London Stadium mixed zone after the final whistle, the 33-year-old then memorably declared‘there is going to be fire’ if he stopped to speak to reporters.
A 2-2 draw in the capital on that occasion all but ended Liverpool’s title-hopes during a disappointing end to the campaign, explaining the forward’s frustration even more after he was only introduced in the 79th minute - moments after Michail Antonio had equalised for the hosts.
But there was still more action than Salah saw at the London Stadium 582 days later.
With the Egyptian left as an unused substitute, there would be no clashes with Slot nor pointed remarks to reporters upon his departure this time around.
Instead, Salah could only watch on from the bench as Slot first sent on Hugo Ekitike for Alexander Isak after 68 minutes, before replacing Florian Wirtz with Curtis Jones in the 75th minute. And then, with Milos Kerkez suffering from cramp, Andy Robertson was introduced a further 10 minutes later.
Slot’s decision would pay off too, at least, as the Reds bounced back from heavy successive defeats against Man City, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven by winning 2-0 at West Ham.
As a result, little more was made of Slot’s call to name Salah on the bench come the final whistle.
With the forward ultimately struggling to replicate his previous heights this year, with his performances the subject of increasing scrutiny, it was an understandable choice - especially given his side and Salah's recent woes.
Consequently, instead the conversation has moved onto whether he should be left out of the starting XI again against Sunderland on Wednesday night.
Slot would downplay his decision not to start Salah both before and after proceedings in the capital, insisting he still has an important role to play as he pointed to the Reds’ intense schedule and how a number of the forward’s team-mates have also found themselves in and out of his starting XI.
“We have more players on the bench than just Mo, but I understand why you ask the question,” he said to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. “We’re playing four games in 10 days.
“I have many good players, so today I chose this line-up. Sometimes Isak has been on the bench, sometimes Wirtz, so I understand why it’s about the players on the bench, but it’s also about those that start.
“It’s not an easy decision, as I have many more than 11 good players – it’s not the first time I haven’t played Mo, just like I’ve decided not to play Isak, Wirtz and Etikite.”
Alexander Isak looks on from the bench as he sits next to Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray in Istanbul on September 17 2025
Mohamed Salah was benched for the Galatasaray game
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But with the Reds returning to winning ways without the forward, and looking rather improved too after a run of nine defeats from 12 matches, Salah now faces questions over whether he should remain left out of the Liverpool starting XI for the first time in his entire Anfield career.
Since joining the Reds in the summer of 2017, the 33-year-old has won every major honour and returned 250 goals and 113 assists from 419 appearances. Starting 383 times, he has also been absent from a matchday squad on 46 occasions but only 15 of them have come in the Premier League or Champions League.
His durability throughout his entire eight and a half years at Anfield has been as remarkable and consistent as his returns in front of goal.
But those returns have dried up this season, with the reigning Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker winner boasting four goals and two assists from 12 outings so far during the current campaign and facing increased scrutiny as a result.
Slot was justified in his decision to bench Salah at West Ham. But while he downplayed his choice, leaving the under-pressure Egyptian unused altogether was perhaps even more telling.
When Liverpool host Sunderland, all eyes will be on whether Salah is recalled when the Reds line-up drops. And then how he responds, be it when named in a starting XI or introduced from the bench. But if left unused again, it would speak volumes.
Regardless of Slot’s decision, Liverpool will still be looking to flourish without the forward when the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway later this month.
Salah might have signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool back in April, but the Reds were always going to start succession-planning for life beyond their star forward. While they did not sign a right-winger in the summer, the arrivals of Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike were all made with one eye on forging a new-look attack.
There is no escaping the fact that Salah’s trophy-laden Anfield career is now a lot closer to its end than start. He has won countless matches for his side, but Sunday, while the rarest of sights as they emerged victorious with the forward left as an available but unused spectator, could well be just the beginning.
Salah’s reign is not over yet but Slot has just offered a true first glimpse into the future at a Liverpool side without its long-serving Egyptian King.