Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah found himself in an unfamiliar position on Sunday, named as a substitute for a Premier League match for the first time in over a year. Manager Arne Slot's decision to drop his star player paid immediate dividends as the Reds secured a crucial 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium.
A Decision with Precedent
This was not the first time Salah has been relegated to the bench during a dip in form. In a striking parallel, former manager Jurgen Klopp made the same call in April 2024, also for an away fixture against West Ham. On that occasion, the situation escalated dramatically. As Salah prepared to enter the pitch, West Ham scored a late equaliser to make it 2-2.
The frustration boiled over, leading to a heated verbal exchange between Salah and Klopp on the touchline. Teammate Darwin Nunez was forced to intervene, separating the furious winger from his manager in an incident captured by television cameras. The match ended in a draw, a result that damaged Liverpool's title ambitions that season.
Unresolved Tensions and a Warning
While Klopp later downplayed the clash, stating "it's done" after a dressing room discussion, Salah's subsequent comments hinted at deeper unrest. Walking past reporters, the Egyptian issued a memorable and ominous warning: "If I speak, there will be fire." This statement was widely interpreted as a defiant message that he remained the team's talisman, unwilling to accept a reduced role.
The timing of that 2024 incident was particularly sensitive, occurring just one day after Arne Slot had been confirmed as Klopp's successor. Despite the rocky end under the German, Salah flourished in his first season under Slot, scoring 29 league goals in 38 appearances to fire Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Current Form and Title Defence Struggles
The context for Slot's recent decision is a significant slump for both player and team. Prior to the West Ham win, Liverpool had suffered nine defeats in their last 12 matches across all competitions. During that poor run, Salah had found the net only twice, a stark contrast to his usual prolific output.
The victory lifted some pressure but the Reds remain in eighth position in the table, a concerning nine points behind leaders Arsenal. With Salah set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month, Liverpool desperately need their main attacker to rediscover his best form.
Slot's Rotation Explanation
Addressing the inevitable questions after the match, Arne Slot insisted his choice was motivated by squad rotation during a congested fixture list. "We're playing four games in 10 days," the Dutchman told Sky Sports. He pointed out that other key attackers like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have also been benched this season.
"I have many good players, so today I chose this line-up," Slot explained. "It's not an easy decision as I have many more than 11 good players – it's not the first time I haven't played Mo." The manager will now be hoping that this bold move, reminiscent of Klopp's past action, provides the same motivational spark to ignite Salah and Liverpool's faltering title defence.
