Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confessed to feeling uncomfortable about leaving Mohamed Salah out of his starting lineup, a significant decision made during the club's recent victory at West Ham United.
The Difficult Decision for a Liverpool Icon
Slot described the act of dropping a player of Salah's stature as a challenging moment for everyone connected with the club. The Egyptian forward, who has delivered eight phenomenal seasons at Anfield, was an unused substitute in the crucial Premier League win, a move that helped halt a dismal run of results.
"It is not a nice thing for him, not for a Liverpool fan and not for me," Slot stated candidly. "A player that has been so important for us, you want to see him on the pitch. I prefer to see Mo on the pitch, scoring his goals and doing something special."
Salah's Impending Departure and Squad Reaction
The situation is compounded by Salah's imminent international duty. The 33-year-old is scheduled to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt on 15 December, meaning his availability is limited. Slot was keen to emphasise that this does not signal the start of a post-Salah era at Liverpool, insisting the forward has been "outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for us in the future."
Despite his disappointment, Slot praised Salah's professional reaction. "The reaction of every player in this group... is to bring the best out of yourself," he said, confirming that Salah had been supportive of his teammates both during the West Ham match and in subsequent training sessions.
Szoboszlai's Role and Future Plans
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was the man to fill Salah's role on the right flank at the London Stadium. However, Slot was clear that this is not a permanent solution, describing Szoboszlai as "more of a midfielder than a winger."
"I don't see Dominik as a right-winger for the long-term future in this club," Slot explained. "In the long-term future we should have wingers playing as wingers, midfielders playing as midfielders." This comment has fuelled speculation about potential January transfer activity, with Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo already linked.
In a positive update on the injury front, right-back Conor Bradley has resumed some team training. The Northern Irishman, who has missed Liverpool's last three games with a muscle issue, could be in contention for the trip to Leeds United on Saturday.
