Arne Slot Exposes Mohamed Salah's Explosive Response to Shocking Liverpool Rejection
Liverpool boss Arne Slot disclosed that Mohamed Salah was "displeased" about being benched for Sunday's match against West Ham United, though he emphasized such a response is "expected" and not exclusive to the Egyptian star.
For the first time this season, Slot named Salah among the Premier League substitutes this weekend. Notably, the previous top-flight game where Liverpool's consistent leading scorer started on the bench was also at the London Stadium in April 2024.
During that match, Jürgen Klopp introduced Salah from the substitutes' bench. This weekend, however, Slot chose not to utilize his experienced winger at all. The previous occasion when Salah remained unused throughout an entire Premier League fixture was in June 2020.
Both before and following the weekend encounter—which Liverpool secured 2–0 without their key player—Slot attributed Salah's omission to rotation management. When questioned again before Wednesday's home fixture against Sunderland, the Dutch manager acknowledged Salah's disappointment. "It was an expected response from a player of his caliber who deserves to feature for us—and I phrase that conservatively given his exceptional contributions to this club and future potential," Slot remarked.
"He was unhappy about not starting, but he wasn't alone in that sentiment."
Slot proceeded to highlight Salah's "exemplary" conduct despite his personal dissatisfaction: "However, his behavior reflected what you'd anticipate from such a consummate professional: he encouraged his teammates and conducted himself admirably.
"You cannot expect a player to perform at the highest level every three days, but his discipline and understanding of fitness maintenance are remarkable. Regardless of performance levels or playing time, he consistently demonstrates top-tier professionalism."
Mohamed Salah's AFCON Departure Timeline Established
The limited Premier League matches Salah has missed throughout his resilient Liverpool tenure have typically resulted from his involvement in various Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Egypt is preparing for another continental championship in Morocco, hoping to claim the trophy for the first time during Salah's somewhat disappointing international journey.
As usual, preparations have centered around discussions of when clubs will release their African representatives. Slot confirmed Liverpool plans to retain Salah until the final deadline while keeping options open for potential flexibility. "The cutoff date is December 15," he informed reporters. "As customary, negotiations involve the national team, player, and club. Discussions always focus on finding the optimal solution for all parties.
"We must devise strategies to compete without him during his absence. That's our reality."
The December 15 deadline would allow Salah to participate in Liverpool's upcoming four matches—assuming Slot doesn't continue benching him. The Egypt skipper will definitely miss the away game at Tottenham Hotspur (December 20) and the home match against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers (December 27).
If Egypt exits during the group phase—concluding for them on December 29—Salah might potentially return for the league match against Leeds United on New Year's Day. Should the Pharaohs advance to the final on January 18, 2026, Salah would be absent for at least seven Liverpool fixtures across all tournaments, including the crucial away match against table-topping Arsenal on January 8.