Reds manager praises forward’s professionalism after dropping him for first time, with Egyptian star set to join national team next week.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has acknowledged that Mohamed Salah was not pleased to be left out of the starting lineup for Sunday’s 2-0 win at West Ham United, while confirming the star forward will join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations next week.
In a candid admission during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slot revealed the 33-year-old’s reaction to being named among the substitutes for the first time in a Premier League match under his management.
“It’s a fair assumption that he wasn’t happy to be left out,” Slot said. “And it’s a normal reaction from a player who is good enough to play for us. He has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for us in the future. Of course a player isn’t happy not playing.”
Despite his disappointment, Slot was full of praise for Salah’s response. “The way he behaved was as you would expect from the professional he is. He was very supportive for his teammates and handled himself really well.”
The decision to bench Salah came amid a dip in form for the forward and a broader team slump that saw Liverpool lose nine of their previous twelve matches. His replacement, Cody Gakpo, scored in the victory, leaving Slot with a selection dilemma for Wednesday’s match against Sunderland.
Slot also confirmed that Salah will link up with the Egyptian national team on December 15, following Saturday’s match against Brighton. “FIFA said the 15th is the last day they have to be released,” the manager explained, while noting that discussions between club, country, and player are ongoing about the precise timing.
Should Egypt make a deep run in the tournament, which ends on January 18, Salah could miss up to eight Liverpool fixtures, including key away clashes against Tottenham and Arsenal.
For now, Slot’s immediate focus is on managing a legendary player’s expectations while navigating his first significant selection headache at Anfield.
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