Arne Slot explains why Mohamed Salah was left out of the starting lineup
Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah once again found himself on Liverpool’s bench. The Merseysiders’ head coach addressed his decision.
Details: Liverpool manager Arne Slot explained why Mohamed Salah was again left out of the starting eleven for the Premier League’s 14th round clash against Sunderland. The Dutch coach stated that Salah’s absence from the starting lineup wasn’t due to any issues with the player, but rather to balance the squad and conserve energy for the full match, making the most effective use of the entire roster.
Slot says he wants to maintain squad stability so that players can keep their rhythm and chemistry, while still injecting freshness:
"I’m putting out the same team, balancing stability with freshness. Today, it’s clear we need the full squad, as some players who start can’t play the full 90 minutes. More than ever, we need more than just 11 players," said the coach.
He also emphasized that Salah, despite starting on the bench, remains a valuable asset for the team:
“Every player could come on, and Mo is definitely one of them. It’s great to have players of his calibre on the bench.”
Slot highlighted the Egyptian forward’s professionalism:
“We didn’t talk about it for long. After the Frankfurt match, we spoke a lot, but this time much less. He conducts himself like a top professional. Mo sets an example for the team both on and off the pitch.”
This season, the Egyptian has made eighteen appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:15 Central European Time.
Reminder: Mohamed Salah will not start for a second consecutive Premier League match.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
