Arne Slot suggested he might keep Mo Salah on the bench for Liverpool’s upcoming match against Sunderland next week.
The Merseysiders will face Regis Le Bris’ in-form Black Cats in the Premier League next Wednesday, aiming for their first back-to-back wins in the league since September after victories over Burnley and Everton.
Speaking after Liverpool’s return to form with a win against Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham, Slot hinted that Salah might not immediately rejoin the starting lineup.
“We have a packed schedule. In the last 10 days, we played four matches. These players are of high quality,” the 47-year-old told BBC MOTD (via BBC Sport). “Mo has been crucial for the club and will continue to be, so we’ll see what happens on Wednesday against Sunderland.”
While this potential choice may come as a surprise, especially after he was benched for the 2-0 win over West Ham, it’s important to note that the team managed to secure a win without him. Players like Florian Wirtz capitalized on the opportunity, working well to create several chances.
Liverpool’s stats against West Ham included:
1.26 xG
5 shots on target
3 big chances created
2 big chances missed
20 touches in the opposition box
Not often do we see Salah’s name missing from consecutive matchday squads. The last time he didn’t start two Premier League games in a row was in the 2023/24 season, due to a muscle injury rather than a tactical decision by then-manager Jurgen Klopp.
While we don’t believe dropping the talisman was the key to victory against West Ham, we wouldn’t oppose Salah returning to the starting XI for the Sunderland match. Given the generally disappointing 2025/26 season and uncertainty surrounding Slot’s future, making bold decisions could send a message to the squad about their responsibility to the coach. Dropping a modern-day Liverpool great like Salah would definitely be a bold move!
