Liverpool fans were left stunned as head coach Arne Slot made the bold decision to bench star winger Mohamed Salah for the second game in a row. After being omitted from the starting lineup in the recent win over West Ham United, many expected the 33-year-old Egyptian to reclaim his spot against Sunderland. However, Slot opted for continuity with just one change to the team, bringing in Andy Robertson at left-back in place of Milos Kerkez.
This move ends Salah’s impressive streak of featuring in every match since Slot took charge of the club last year. Speaking ahead of the Sunderland clash, Slot provided insight into his reasoning, emphasizing the need for rotation and fresh legs in a demanding schedule.
“Milos left the pitch with cramp [against West Ham]. A few times he was already far above what he usually does in a game. We thought it was too big a risk for him tonight, that’s why Robbo starts,” Slot explained to Sky Sports.
“For the rest, I play the same team. It is always a balance between do you want continuity after a win or do you need fresh players? I think it is obvious and clear that we need more than 11 players tonight because a few of them who start are probably not able to play 90. Maybe more than ever we need more than 11 players.”
Salah, who watched the West Ham victory from the substitutes’ bench, has reacted professionally to the disappointment. Slot praised the forward’s attitude, highlighting him as an example for the squad.
“We didn’t have a long conversation this time and also before with West Ham. We spoke a lot after the Frankfurt game [in October] and now not as much,” Slot added regarding his discussions with Salah.
“He reacts like you want a top professional to react in that he trained really hard and good the day after West Ham. He trained well yesterday and is really positive towards his teammates. I think in that sense he is an example for all these players when he played, and now he’s an example if you don’t play.”
When asked about the possibility of introducing Salah off the bench against Sunderland, Slot was optimistic. “All the players who are on the bench have a chance to come in. Mo is definitely one of them. We all know what he means for this team.”
“I think Sunderland is a team that is really intense in every phase of the game, so we need to be top over 90 minutes and, like I just said, we need more than 11 players tonight. It’s a good thing we have players like Mo, like Federico Chiesa, Wata [Endo], Curtis Jones and all the others also available.”
Slot’s decision underscores the depth in Liverpool’s squad and the tactical flexibility he’s implementing. As the Reds push forward in the Premier League, managing player workload will be key to maintaining their strong form. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Salah makes an impact from the bench and how this rotation strategy plays out in the coming fixtures.