The former Liverpool full-back was asked about his preferred midfield.
Steve Nicol has claimed that he would bench Mo Salah if Liverpool were to play in the Champions League final tomorrow.
Salah’s output has dropped this season, having fired 34 goals and 23 assists en route to the Reds winning the Premier League title last term. In the 2025-26 campaign, the winger has scored seven goals and created eight in 27 appearances.
Since returning from the African Cup of Nations, Salah’s work-rate has increased - having been dropped from Arne Slot’s side before the tournament - and he recorded a goal and an assist in the 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Brighton.
Speaking on ESPN, Nicol was asked what Liverpool’s best midfield trio looks like between Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz. But mulling over the question, he instead stated that he’d omit Salah and deploy Wirtz on the right wing.
Nicol said: “It ain’t Szoboszlai (who would be left out). This is an impossible question to answer because it really depends on who you are playing against. Regardless of where you are in the league, if you’re playing a side you’re clearly better than, you go with Wirtz.
“But if this is tight and it’s going to be tough, you’re going to have to be alert, can’t afford to make mistakes, have to make sure of every opportunity, challenge and second ball. I tell you what I’m going to do; I’m going to drop Salah and play Wirtz wide.”
Former Norway international and broadcaster Jan Åge Fjørtoft added: “If you asked me for the Champions League final, I’d go for the people who can win the game for me. I’d have Wirtz and Szoboszlai 100 per cent and then it depends on the No.6 position. I think I’d put Gravenberch on the bench.”
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