Liverpool manager Arne Slot revealed that Mohamed Salah “wasn’t happy” with being dropped for Sunday’s trip to West Ham United but insisted that reaction is “normal” and not unique to the Egyptian talisman.
Salah was named as a Premier League substitute by Slot for the first time this weekend. Incidentally, the last top-flight match which Liverpool’s perennial top scorer began on the bench was also at the London Stadium back in April 2024.
On that occasion, Jürgen Klopp brought Salah off the bench. Over the weekend, Slot didn’t call upon his waning winger at all. The last time Salah spent an entire Premier League match among the substitutes was June 2020.
Immediately before and after the weekend clash—which Liverpool won 2–0 without their talisman—Slot wrote off Salah’s absence as a case of load management. The topic was raised again ahead of Wednesday’s visit from Sunderland and the Dutch boss confirmed Salah was disappointed. “It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us—and I say that mildly as he’s been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future,” Slot shrugged.
“He wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting but he wasn’t the only one.”
Slot went on to stress how “professional” Salah had been despite his personal frustration: “But the way he behaved was as you’d expect from such a professional: he supported his teammates and handled himself really well.
“You can’t be a player that has to play every three days to high standard but he’s so disciplined and knows what to do to stay fit. Whether he plays well, doesn’t play well, plays or doesn’t play, he’ll always be that top professional.”
