*Slot Explains Dropping Mo Salah After 2‑0 West Ham Win*

 

 

Arne Slot told Sky Sports he benched Mo Salah because Liverpool are crunched for time—four games in ten days—and he needed to rotate. “We have more players on the bench than just Mo,” he said, noting the squad depth and that it’s not the first time he’s left out Salah, Isak, Wirtz or Ekitike. Slot added it wasn’t an easy call, but the fixture pile‑up forced him to pick a different XI.

 

Ahead of the West Ham clash, Slot shuffled the right side: Joe Gomez returned at right‑back, Dominik Szoboszlai shifted to the right‑wing, Alexander Isak led the attack and Florian Wirtz started as No 10. This left Salah on the bench with Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool snapped a 70‑year‑worst run of form (9 losses in 12 games, including 4‑1 to PSV and 3‑0 to Nottingham Forest) by winning 2‑0—Isak’s first PL goal and Cody Gakpo’s late strike.

 

Salah, who won the title last season and signed a big new contract, has managed only four goals and two assists this term. He’ll soon miss time for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (Dec 21 – Jan 18), with talks of an early release but clubs want to keep him until FIFA rules.¹ ² ³