Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said Mohamed Salah’s absence from the pitch in Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Ham United was strictly a matter of load management.
The Egyptian was benched for the first time in 54 Premier League matches, with the previous instance also coming against the Hammers coincidentally.
He was ultimately not needed off the bench as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo secured a much-needed victory that ended Liverpool’s three-game losing streak.
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Speaking after the match, Slot understood questions about leaving out one of the club’s biggest stars would be coming.
“[I get asked] every time I don’t play Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike or Mohamed Salah, which is normal because they are all outstanding players,” he said.
“Mo has had an unbelievable career at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he is such a special player.
“Four games in 10 days with only 14-15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up and you try to pick the best line-up for every single game.”
Salah will have the chance to return to the starting XI when Liverpool host Sunderland on Wednesday.
