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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says he was left “flabbergasted” by Arne Slot’s decision to leave Mo Salah out of the starting line-up against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds’ head coach opted to select Alexander Isak instead of Salah in a front two alongside Hugo Ekitike, and Carragher could not work out the logic behind the change:
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“Mohamed Salah didn’t play the first leg, so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League. He played in the Premier League and scored a goal. He’s still one of Liverpool’s best goalscorers. He’s used to this system. Isak’s never even played with Ekitike before.”
“I don’t think Arne Slot is the type of manager who would be thinking ‘I remember what you did to me a few months ago, calling me out publicly’. Certain managers in the past, maybe Alex Ferguson, might think something like that. I don’t think Arne Slot would.”
“Is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving? It’s something like ‘I’m going with the players who are going to be here next year.’ That’s the only thing I can think of. Even that doesn’t make sense. It’s about the here and now. I’m flabbergasted.”
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Slot’s gamble failed spectacularly
Hugo Ekitike’s injury meant that the Reds were forced into an early substitution anyway, which led to Salah coming onto the pitch. Isak, meanwhile, lasted only 45 minutes before Cody Gakpo took his place.
Salah had shown with his goal in the preceding fixture against Fulham that he could still contribute despite his massive drop in form this season, but Slot decided to take a risk with a surprise personnel change, which didn’t pay off.
Where does his leave Salah, Slot and Liverpool?
The Egyptian international is expected to be recalled for the Merseyside derby this weekend, with Ekitike now sidelined, but there clearly is no trust between him and his manager.
For Slot, the fact that his team was distinctively second best against PSG shows the sharp decline during his second year in the job.
All the Dutchman can hope for now is that Champions League qualification will be enough to save him from the sack.
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