Arne Slot has given an insight into Mohamed Salah's reaction to being named on the Liverpool bench for their Premier League clash against Sunderland – and it speaks volumes.
It is just the second time in Salah's nine seasons at Liverpool that he has been benched in consecutive games.
On Wednesday night, just days after being dropped from their starting line-up to face West Ham, the out-of-form Egyptian was left out again, this time against high-flying Sunderland.
It was a headline-making decision from Slot, who named Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai in his starting line-up alongside Alexander Isak, another player who is yet to find his feet this season.
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Speaking in his pre-match interview, Slot said Salah acted like a true professional after being named on the bench.
"I play the same team, it's a balance between continuity and freshness," Slot said. "It's obvious and clear we need the full squad tonight because a few who start aren't able to play a full 90 again. More than ever, we need more than 11 players tonight."
He continued: "All the players have a chance to come in, Mo is definitely one of them. It's a good thing we have players like Mo available on the bench. We haven't had a long conversation. We spoke a lot after the Frankfurt game, and now not as much.
"He reacts like you want, a top professional," added Slot. "He trains really good and is positive towards his team-mates. He's an example when he plays, and now he's an example of how to act when you don't play."
Given how prolific Salah has been for Liverpool over the years, his form across the opening three months of the campaign has been uncharacteristically poor.
The 33-year-old has scored five times in 18 appearances across all competitions this season, with his last goal coming in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on November 1.
"It is not a nice thing for him, not for a Liverpool fan and not for me," Slot said at the weekend, after Salah was benched against West Ham. "A player that has been so important for us, you want to see him on the pitch.
"I prefer to see Mo on the pitch, scoring his goals and doing something special rather than the camera being on him when he isn’t in the game."
Slot added: "He has been so important for us, for so many years, and he will be important for us in the coming days – because it is days as he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Slot clearly felt he had to address Liverpool's lack of firepower going forward, and Salah has paid the price. Is it the right call? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Arne Slot, Sunderland, Premier League
Jack Kenmare