Arne Slot has addressed why Mo Salah was left as an unused substitute in the defeat against PSG, explaining that it was “more about surviving.”
For the second time in the last four games, Salah was named as a substitute, but went unused for the first time since the trip to Leeds, which prompted his explosive comments.
Salah, Liverpool’s highest scorer in the Champions League, instead watched on as Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Andy Robertson and Trey Nyoni were all turned to from the 78th minute.
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Asked in his post-match press conference why Salah was not turned to, Slot explained that it was “better for him to save his energy” as Liverpool were merely “surviving.”
“I think in the last part of the game, it was more about surviving for us than there was ever a chance that we could score,” Slot said of his decision to overlook the Egyptian.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are sent to warm up whilst Mohamed Salah is left on the bench during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Yeah, you never know, because last season we scored five minutes before the end, Harvey Elliott, when I took Mo off, but I think this was 20-25 minutes where we were only defending.
“And Mo has so much quality, but for Mo to be 20-25 minutes defending inside his own box, I think it’s better for him to save his energy for a lot of games that are coming up in the upcoming weeks.”
While you can see what Slot is attempting to say, his admission points to the gulf in class that his side experienced in Paris and the lack of ambition as Liverpool should have been chasing two goals.
The Reds were in ‘survival’ mode throughout the entire game, not just at the death, and were fortunate that PSG overplayed and fluffed their chances inside the box.
Salah has not been the player he was from last season, few have been, but for him to sit on the bench when Liverpool did not pose a threat or muster a single shot on target speaks volumes about Slot’s approach.
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