Liverpool manager Arne Slot has moved to reassure supporters that Mohamed Salah remains a key part of the club's long-term vision, despite the Egyptian star being dropped to the bench for Sunday's 2-0 Premier League victory at West Ham United.
Tactical Decision, Not a Snub
Slot made the surprising decision to omit Salah from his starting lineup at the London Stadium, marking the first league match the forward has been left out of when available since April 2024. While acknowledging the weight of the choice, Slot was keen to frame it within the context of a demanding schedule.
"I get this question a lot," Slot said, comparing the situation to when he has rested other top attackers. "Mo has had an unbelievable career and will have a very good future at this club because he's such a special player." He elaborated that with four games in ten days, rotation was a necessity.
However, the Dutch coach also provided a tactical insight, suggesting the specific setup of the West Ham defence, with a high full-back and an inside winger, influenced his selection, hinting he needed a player who could perform specific defensive duties.
A Welcome Victory and Fan Support
The match itself provided a much-needed boost for Liverpool, securing only their second win in eight Premier League outings. Alexander Isak broke his goal drought to open the scoring, with the result bringing a sense of relief to the squad.
Slot described the result as "very good" but remained analytical, noting his team's continued struggle to convert early chances. He did, however, highlight a positive defensive shift: "the good thing is that for the first time in many games the first chance of our opponent didn't go in."
The new head coach also expressed his gratitude for the travelling fans who chanted his name throughout the match. "It means a lot," he stated, "and says a lot about the club and about the fans. That's special... This club is all together."
West Ham's Paquetá Sees Red
For West Ham, the defeat was compounded by a late red card for Lucas Paquetá. The Brazilian was dismissed with six minutes remaining after receiving two quick yellow cards for dissent.
West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo refused to comment publicly, saying he wanted a "private conversation" with the player first. Post-match, Paquetá took to social media platform X to vent his frustration, linking the incident to the psychological toll of his recent cleared spot-fixing charges, calling the situation "ridiculous."
