Liverpool manager Arne Slott has decided to leave Mohamed Salah out of the starting lineup for Wednesday night’s Premier League match against Sunderland.
The “Egyptian King” also missed the starting eleven against West Ham last Saturday, when Liverpool secured their first win in a month, a 2-0 victory at the London Stadium.
Slott explained Salah’s absence at the time by saying that the upcoming period is packed with matches and that his playing time needs to be managed, leading to expectations that he would feature against Sunderland.
However, the Dutch manager surprised everyone by deciding to stick with the same lineup he used against West Ham, keeping Salah on the bench.
Since joining Liverpool in 2017, this is the first time the 33-year-old has been on the bench for two consecutive Premier League matches.
Slot’s decision reflects a shaken confidence in Salah, who has scored only four goals this season and faced heavy criticism for his noticeable dip in form.
Slot’s decision raises further questions about Salah’s future at Liverpool, even though his contract runs until the summer of 2027. The Egyptian player is accustomed to playing regularly and refuses to be a substitute, which opens the door for an early departure next summer if the situation remains unchanged.
It’s worth noting that Salah will leave Liverpool in two weeks to join the Egyptian national team for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he will be for approximately a month.
