Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Mohamed Salah’s “top professional” attitude after the Egyptian forward was dropped for the first time in a Premier League match since April 2024. The decision came amid Liverpool’s alarming run of nine defeats in 12 games across all competitions, forcing Slot to rethink his approach before a crucial 2-0 win away at West Ham on Sunday.
Salah, last season’s Golden Boot winner with 29 league goals, has struggled for form this term, scoring only four times. With Liverpool desperately needing a reset, Slot opted to start the Egyptian on the bench at London Stadium. Although Salah did not feature in the match, Slot acknowledged the player’s frustration while commending his commitment and professionalism.
Slot admitted that it was a “fair assumption” Salah was unhappy with his omission. “That’s a normal reaction from a player that’s good enough to play for us,” he said. “And I say that mildly, because he has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for the future. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting. That is normal.”
Despite his disappointment, Salah reacted in the manner Slot expected from a player of his calibre. “He handled himself really well,” Slot explained. “He is so disciplined – he knows what to do to stay fit. No matter if he plays well or doesn’t play well, if he plays or doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional. And that’s what he was in the last two days.”
Slot stressed that even world-class players experience dips in form or confidence. “With all players around the world, there are phases in their time at the club where they are human. He’s scored so many goals for us, and I’m sure he will in the future.”
Salah’s immediate future, however, is also shaped by international commitments. Slot confirmed that the 31-year-old will leave Liverpool on 15 December to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), meaning the home fixture against Brighton on 13 December is expected to be his last before his departure. Afcon’s final takes place on 18 January 2026, and if Egypt progress all the way, Salah may not return to Merseyside until 19 January.
This absence could see him miss up to seven Liverpool fixtures, including the significant league match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 8 January. Slot did not confirm whether Salah would start Liverpool’s remaining fixtures before Afcon, instead insisting selection decisions will be made on a game-by-game basis.
The tactical decisions at West Ham appeared to offer Liverpool some stability on the right flank, where the team has been repeatedly targeted in recent matches. Slot deployed Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez on that side in a 4-2-3-1 setup, and the team benefitted from a more balanced performance.
Liverpool’s season has been turbulent. The defending champions currently sit eighth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal. Their struggles have been particularly evident at Anfield, where they have suffered back-to-back defeats. With sixth-placed Sunderland visiting on Wednesday, Slot knows his side cannot afford another setback.
Sunderland, managed by Régis Le Bris, arrive at Anfield ahead of Liverpool in the table and with confidence. They have not won away at Anfield in the league since 1983, but given Liverpool’s fragile form, the Black Cats will sense an opportunity. Slot recognises the threat they pose and stressed the need for Liverpool to build on their victory over West Ham rather than regress.
The coming weeks will test Liverpool’s resilience both on and off the pitch. Salah’s form, his looming Afcon absence, and Slot’s attempts to stabilise a previously faltering campaign will shape the direction of the season. Yet, as Slot emphasised, if Salah’s attitude in the past week is anything to go by, Liverpool can still rely on his professionalism—even in difficult moments.
