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The writing was on the wall the moment Mohamed Salah sat unused on the bench during last week's first leg, only to be reinstated for Saturday's Premier League victory against Fulham: the Liverpool talisman finds himself dropped once more for the high-stakes home clash with Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
Inconceivable as anything other than a guaranteed starter just under a year ago, it speaks volumes about how dramatically Salah's standing has declined in what is now confirmed to be his farewell season at the club, where he has cemented his status as an all-time great over nine remarkable years.
Arne Slot shuffled his Liverpool squad for the Fulham fixture to keep key players rested ahead of PSG. The Dutch boss even took a calculated risk on Alexander Isak, handing the club-record signing his first start since December 9 after just two substitute outings following his return from a broken leg.
Liverpool shelled out close to $168 million (£125 million) for Isak and therefore need the Swedish striker to deliver on occasions like this—PSG carry a 2–0 aggregate advantage from the opening leg. Yet Slot has a clear rationale for naming him in the starting eleven at Salah's expense.
Isak Selection Decision Impacts Salah
The Liverpool boss spoke with Prime Video before kickoff and seemed to indicate his side will look to play directly into both Isak and Hugo Ekitiké, who are partnering up in the starting lineup for only the third occasion.
"The thinking is that we need to score goals and there are goals in these players. They are two target men, two players we can play in to," Slot explained.
However, there is an additional consideration at play. Isak's limited match sharpness means his availability remains restricted.
"As you might not know, Alex will not be able to play much more than 45 minutes. So if you bring him in, with the possibility of extra time, it makes sense to me to start him [instead]," Slot clarified.
The reasoning here is that, if Isak were introduced at halftime, for instance, the cap on his playing time could be breached should Liverpool overturn the deficit and force an additional thirty minutes. The only other option would be substituting a substitute, which is a demoralizing scenario for any footballer.
Slot's Pregame Dig at Salah?
Salah has never been particularly renowned for his defensive contributions without the ball.
He is widely regarded as an attacking luxury, typically excused from tracking back toward his own goal so that he remains sharp and lethal when the time comes to surge toward the opposition's net.
Slot, who didn't even call upon Salah from the bench in the first leg, may have inadvertently revealed a key reason why the Egyptian King—now that his attacking output has dipped—is being left out of the side.
Reading between the lines, Slot's emphasis on "matching [PSG's] intensity off the ball" as crucial to Liverpool's prospects says it all. Don't be surprised if Cody Gakpo, who appears to enjoy far greater trust from the manager, comes off the bench ahead of Salah—if the latter features at all.