Arne Slot acknowledged on Tuesday that Mohamed Salah was unhappy with his exclusion from Liverpool’s starting XI during their crucial 2–0 victory over West Ham — but praised the forward’s professionalism and long-standing contribution to the club.
Salah remained an unused substitute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Slot reshuffled his team in response to a poor run of form that included nine defeats in 12 matches across all competitions.
The 33-year-old has struggled this season, scoring only four Premier League goals — a stark decline from the 29 he netted last campaign, a total that earned him the Golden Boot.
Slot told reporters that, throughout his tenure, Salah had been a “superhuman being,” but admitted the Egyptian had experienced a dip in performance in recent weeks.
“As with all players, there are phases when you’re human,” Slot said. “He has scored so many goals for us and I’m sure he will again.”
Ahead of Liverpool’s home match against high-flying Sunderland on Wednesday, Slot said he expected Salah to be disappointed by the decision but praised the way he handled it.
“That’s a normal reaction from a player of his calibre,” he said. “And I say that mildly — he has been outstanding for this club for so many years, and will continue to be in the future. Of course he wasn’t happy not to start. He wasn’t the only one, I can tell you.”
Slot added that Salah fully supported his teammates despite his frustration.
“You cannot play at such a high level every three days if you’re driven purely by emotion,” he said. “Mo is incredibly disciplined. He knows what it takes to stay fit, and whether he plays well, poorly, or doesn’t play at all, he is always the ultimate professional.”
Slot also confirmed that Salah is scheduled to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on 15 December.
“As always, these situations involve the player, the country — Egypt in this case — and the club,” he said. “There are always discussions about what is best for all three parties.”
