Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a bold and decisive call for the trip to West Ham on the weekend, omitting star forward Mohamed Salah from his starting eleven. The move paid immediate dividends as the Reds secured a vital three points at the London Stadium, with the team displaying a balance that has been elusive in recent weeks.
The Catalyst for Change
While Salah's overall productivity has dipped this season, he is far from alone in that regard within the Liverpool squad. The Egyptian was arguably the most threatening player in the disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. However, it was his performance in the 4-1 Champions League rout by PSV Eindhoven that proved the final straw for Slot. A perceived lack of effort, notably in not tracking back for PSV's second goal, forced the Dutch manager's hand.
The faith shown in other big-money signings was rewarded at West Ham. Both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak delivered what were widely considered their best performances since arriving at Anfield, with Isak netting his first Premier League goal for the club. Their improved showings, within a more cohesive team structure, make it difficult to see Salah immediately reclaiming his spot for the upcoming fixture against Sunderland at Anfield.
A Rest Built on Eight Years of Grind
Slot's public assertion that Salah has "a very good future" at Liverpool is the expected line from a manager, but it is also fundamentally accurate. The underlying reason for this benching may be less about current form and more about cumulative fatigue. At 33 years old, Salah is not just in need of a rest from this season, but from a remarkably robust and relentless career.
The numbers are staggering. Since joining Liverpool, Salah has made 419 appearances for the club across eight full seasons and part of the current campaign. Add to that his 109 caps for Egypt, and the total approaches an astonishing 800 professional outings. His availability has been legendary; in all that time, he has been unavailable for selection due to injury or illness for just 38 matches, three of which were COVID-related.
The Road Ahead for an Anfield Icon
This period out of the starting lineup, potentially extended through the Africa Cup of Nations in January, could prove a strategic reset. Liverpool's Premier League title defence is hanging by a thread, and Slot may have learned from last season's regret of not rotating enough before a Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
This points to a potentially pivotal role for Salah in European competition later in the season. Wherever his next chapter begins, one thing remains certain: Mohamed Salah is simply too good a player to remain on the sidelines for long. This break, engineered by a manager thinking of the bigger picture, is likely to see the Egyptian superstar return to centre-stage with a point to prove and fresh energy to burn.
