Liverpool manager Arne Slot has moved to reassure fans about Mohamed Salah's future after making the surprise decision to drop the star forward for his team's 2-0 Premier League victory at West Ham United.
Tactical Decision or Simple Rotation?
In a post-match explanation, Slot played down the significance of leaving Salah on the bench at the London Stadium. The Egyptian had started every league match for which he was available since April 2024, but found himself omitted from the starting lineup as Alexander Isak scored his first Premier goal for the club in a much-needed win.
"I get this question a lot," Slot said, referring to the constant scrutiny over his team selection. "Mo has had an unbelievable career and will have a very good future at this club because he's such a special player. But when you have four games in 10 days then you have to decide once in a while on a certain lineup."
Beyond Rotation: A Tactical Insight
While initially citing the congested fixture schedule, the candid Dutch coach couldn't resist offering tactical reasoning for his selection. He pointed specifically to West Ham's setup with a high full-back and an inside winger, suggesting this influenced his decision.
The implication was clear: Slot had doubts about whether Salah could perform the necessary defensive duties required to counter West Ham's particular tactical approach at the London Stadium.
Relief and Reflection After Victory
Slot described his emotions after the match as "relief" rather than euphoria, with the result marking just Liverpool's second win in eight Premier League outings.
"In terms of result it is of course very good," he acknowledged, "but there were also a few things similar to other games. We couldn't score our first chances. But the good thing is that for the first time in many games the first chance of our opponent didn't go in, and was in the 90th minute and was the only chance they had."
The Liverpool head coach also expressed his gratitude to the travelling supporters who chanted his name throughout the match. "It means a lot," he said, "and says a lot about the club and about the fans. That's special, and not just from 1-0 but from start to finish. That says this club is all together."
West Ham's Paquetá Sees Red
The match took a dramatic turn in the closing stages when West Ham's Lucas Paquetá received two quick yellow cards for dissent, resulting in a red card with just six minutes remaining.
West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo refused to be drawn on the incident, stating: "It's hard to play against a team like Liverpool with one man less. I want to have a private conversation with him, try to understand. I think it's unfair to make any kind of comment without the chance to speak to him."
Post-game, Paquetá took to social media platform X to offer his perspective, writing: "It's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation. Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a reflection of everything I've had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I'm sorry if I'm not perfect." The Brazilian had been cleared of spot-fixing charges in July following a lengthy investigation.
