Mohamed Salah looked like a tourist in Frankfurt after being left on the bench for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, with the Egyptian King appearing frustrated as he was reduced to a cameo role.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot deserves praise for dropping Salah, but his show of strength was undermined when he chose to send on Federico Chiesa instead of the forward when the game was already won at 3-1. Salah's face resembled a thunderstorm as he watched Chiesa take the pitch.
Eventually, Salah was introduced with 16 minutes remaining, replacing Hugo Ekitike, but by then Liverpool had scored five goals and the contest was irrelevant. He trotted onto the pitch like someone who had won the booby prize in a raffle.
Slot's decision may have been intended as a show of strength, but it risks alienating a player who knows he deserves more respect. Watch this space.
