Mohamed Salah (foto: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah was benched in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Ham, raising questions about his long-term future as Arne Slot’s new-look attack finally clicked into gear.
Mohamed Salah has a special history with the London Stadium, but last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham may be remembered as the day Liverpool began preparing for life beyond their Egyptian icon. For the first time since April 2024, Salah started a Premier League match on the bench — a bold decision by Arne Slot that paid off.
It was at the same venue that Salah famously clashed with Jürgen Klopp last season, uttering his now-iconic line: “If I speak, there will be fire.” This time, there was no drama — just a tactical gamble that may mark a quiet transition toward a new era.
Slot, who oversaw a £450 million summer rebuild, finally saw his new signings deliver. Alexander Isak scored his first goal since arriving from Newcastle for a club-record £125 million, while Florian Wirtz — the £116 million German playmaker — controlled the midfield. Goals from Isak and Cody Gakpo sealed a vital victory that ended Liverpool’s run of nine defeats in twelve matches.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney and other pundits had been calling for Salah to be dropped after a series of quiet performances. Slot took that risk — and it worked. Alan Shearer told the BBC: “It was a big call from Slot, but results made it easier. Salah can’t complain because he wasn’t playing well. The decision worked — Isak made the difference.”
Slot reshaped Liverpool’s attack, moving Dominik Szoboszlai to the right wing, Gakpo to the left, and pushing Isak through the middle. The change added energy and variety to an attack that had grown predictable. Joe Gomez also impressed at right-back, helping secure Liverpool’s first clean sheet in three games after conceding ten goals in their previous three.
Salah, now 33 and set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations soon, watched from the sidelines. Slot insisted the forward remains vital to his plans: “Mo has a very good future at this club — he’s a special player.” But Liverpool’s improved display without him was hard to ignore.
Even so, Salah’s numbers remain legendary. In 419 appearances for Liverpool — 383 of them starts — he has scored 250 goals. In the Premier League alone, he has 188 goals from 300 games, with the Reds winning 64% of matches he’s played in. He remains third in the club’s all-time scoring charts behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
But football never stands still. Slot’s Liverpool, built around younger stars like Isak and Wirtz, may soon evolve into a team that doesn’t depend solely on Salah’s brilliance. The coming weeks — starting with Wednesday’s clash against Sunderland — could hint at how quickly that future will arrive.