As a lifelong Premier League fan and someone who spends far too many hours dissecting tactics, I’ve watched Mohamed Salah transform from a fast, direct winger into one of the Premier League’s greatest ever forwards.
But Arne Slot’s decision to drop Mohamed Salah from the Liverpool squad wasn’t just about form or rotation. It was a bold and, honestly, necessary message about discipline and unity. Slot handled it better than many expected, prioritising the whole squad ahead of a superstar.
The tension didn’t come out of nowhere. It really escalated after Salah was benched for the Liverpool 1–1 draw against Sunderland. Slot defended the decision by saying he needed to manage minutes, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
Slot said:
Arne Slot on Mo Salah: Four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us… you make decisions. Mo Salah has been so important for this club and will be important for this club in the future. No doubts.
Honestly, Softfootball understands that Liverpool’s schedule has been brutal, but Salah’s reaction lit the fuse. After the 3–3 draw at Leeds, Salah accused the club of throwing him under the bus and practically admitted his relationship with Slot was broken.
He even hinted that Brighton could be his final game for the Reds. That didn’t go down well. Slot’s response was swift, and Salah didn’t even travel with the squad for the Inter game. The decision was tied directly to his public outburst, and honestly, it makes sense.
Slot spoke calmly before the match, saying he couldn’t guarantee whether Salah had played his last game but made it clear the team had to come first. After Liverpool battled to a gritty win against Inter, he doubled down, saying it was up to Salah to take the first step if the relationship was going to be repaired.
From where I sit, Slot absolutely made the right call. Salah’s numbers are still good, but his overall form has dipped slightly this season. And Slot’s system asks a lot more defensive work from the forwards, which might have contributed to the friction. But more importantly, no manager, especially a new one, can let public criticism slide.
Slot handled it perfectly. Benching a star shows the rest of the squad that big names don’t get to bend the rules. To be clear, this isn’t about pushing Salah out the door. It’s about setting standards. His contract runs until 2027, but the atmosphere is getting tense, and the next few weeks could shape what happens next.
Liverpool’s strong display against Inter showed the team can survive a night without him, even if they’re stronger with him involved. If Salah reaches out and the two find common ground, this could actually be a turning point. If not, Liverpool may be heading into a new era sooner than expected.
Either way, Slot’s stance sends the right message: talent wins games, but discipline sustains a club. And in this moment, I’m fully behind him.
