Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made a significant decision by benching star winger Mohamed Salah for the upcoming match against Sunderland on March 6, 2024. This marks the first time in his career that Salah has been sidelined for two consecutive Premier League games. In the current season, Salah has made 12 league appearances, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Slot made the controversial choice to drop Salah for last Sunday’s match against West Ham United, opting for Dominik Szoboszlai in his place. This tactical shift paid off as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory, with goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. The win against West Ham represents only the second victory for Liverpool in their last eight league matches.
Despite the successful outcome, Slot expressed reluctance to label the benching of Salah as the beginning of a new era without him. “It is not a nice thing for him, not for a Liverpool fan and not for me,” Slot stated. “A player that has been so important for us, you want to see him on the pitch. I prefer to see Mo on the pitch, scoring goals, and doing something special rather than the camera being on him when he isn’t in the game.”
Salah’s absence from the pitch is particularly notable as he is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the Egyptian national team after Wednesday’s match. Following this fixture against Sunderland, Liverpool will only have Salah available for three more matches before he joins his national squad.
The decision to bench Salah has sparked discussions among fans and analysts alike regarding his current form and future with the club. While Slot’s strategy appears to be yielding results, the long-term implications of sidelining such a pivotal player remain to be seen.
As Liverpool prepares for their match against Sunderland, all eyes will be on how the team performs without their star player and what this means for their ambitions in the league moving forward.
