Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Mohamed Salah as a “top professional” after the forward reacted calmly to being dropped for the 2-0 Premier League win at West Ham on Sunday.
Salah was named on the bench as Liverpool looked to halt a run of nine defeats in 12 matches in all competitions, marking the first time he has been left out of a league starting XI since April 2024 under Jurgen Klopp. The Egypt international, who won the Golden Boot last season with 29 Premier League goals, has scored only four times in the top flight this campaign.
Slot said it was a “fair assumption” that Salah was unhappy about being an unused substitute at London Stadium. “That is a normal reaction from a player that is good enough to play for us, and I say that mildly because he has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for the future,” Slot said. “He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting and that is normal.”
Despite the frustration, Slot highlighted the way Salah conducted himself. “He handled himself really well,” he said. “He is so disciplined, he knows what to do to stay fit. No matter if he plays well or if he doesn’t play well, if he plays or doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional and that is what he was in the last two days. With all players around the world, there are phases in your time at the club that they are human. He’s scored so many goals for us and I am sure he will in the future.”
Slot also confirmed that Liverpool will be without Salah from 15 December when he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the final scheduled for 18 January 2026. “We have to find a way to play without him because he won’t be here,” he said.
Defending champions Liverpool sit eighth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal. They host Sunderland on Wednesday before travelling to Leeds on Saturday, with the hosts currently in the relegation zone.
