Slot Benches Struggling Salah for West Ham Win, Sparking Debate on Liverpool Future

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday has ignited debate over whether the club is preparing for life without star forward Mohamed Salah. Head coach Arne Slot controversially left the 33-year-old on the bench for a Premier League match for the first time since April 2024, citing the forward’s recent dip in form.

The decision followed weeks of scrutiny over Salah's performances and comes ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. Liverpool secured a crucial result after a long spell of poor form, which included nine defeats in their previous 12 matches. Alexander Isak scored his first league goal since his record move from Newcastle. Cody Gakpo provided the assist for Isak's opener and added the second goal in stoppage time. Midfielder Florian Wirtz played a key role in the reshaped lineup.

Slot restored Joe Gomez at right-back, strengthening the defense after conceding 10 goals in the previous three games, and allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to return to an attacking role. Liverpool kept a clean sheet and secured only their second league win since mid-September.

Coach Slot stated that Salah still has a strong future at the club but admitted current performances made selection decisions difficult. Analysts supported Slot’s decision, with former England captain Alan Shearer saying Salah "cannot complain" and called the move a necessary step for the team’s recovery. Despite recent struggles, Salah's overall record remains exceptional: 250 goals in 419 appearances since 2017, with a 64% league win rate.

Slot is expected to decide soon whether Salah returns to the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Sunderland on Wednesday. Goal-scorer Isak expressed hope that his goal would end a frustrating drought and help him build momentum after a slow start to his Liverpool career.