Liverpool v Sunderland live: Mohamed Salah benched again for visit of Premier League high-flyers

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·3 December 2025

Liverpool v Sunderland live: Mohamed Salah benched again for visit of Premier League high-flyers

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'He is a top professional' - Slot praises Salah's reaction to being dropped for West Ham

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Liverpool appeared more like their old selves as they beat West Ham 2-0 last weekend, but face a sterner test against Premier League high-flyers Sunderland tonight at a ground that has proven unexpectedly tricky for the Reds in recent weeks – Anfield.

Back-to-back home defeats to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and PSV in the Champions League meant Liverpool endured a torrid week before heading to London Stadium, with pressure piling on manager Arne Slot.

But after the Dutchman made the big decision to drop Mohamed Salah against West Ham, £125m summer signing Alexander Isak scored his first top-flight goal for the club and they avoided a 10th defeat in 13 games.

Once unthinkable, dropping Mohamed Salah could now save Liverpool’s season

This feels even more relevant now. Could this really be the beginning of the end for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?

A year on from saying he was ‘more out than in’ at Anfield in an infamous interview, Richard Jolly explores the possibility that the club’s talisman may finally need to be phased out:

Once unthinkable, dropping Mohamed Salah could now save Liverpool’s season

A year on from saying he was ‘more out than in’ at Liverpool in an infamous interview, the club’s talisman may finally need to be phased out

Richard Jolly3 December 2025 19:53

Anfield awaits

Being an Anfield season ticket holder hasn’t been easy for the past month - since their 1-0 win over Real Madrid, it’s been two straight losses by a margin of three goals.

Off the high of West Ham, can Liverpool stop the rot at home?

(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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Will Castle3 December 2025 19:45

Arne Slot reveals Mohamed Salah's reaction to being benched in back-to-back Liverpool games

“We didn't have a long conversation, this time or before West Ham,” Slot told Sky Sports when probed on the 32-year-old’s reaction. “We spoke a lot after the Frankfurt game and now not as much as that time.

“I think he reacts like you want a top professional to react and that is he trained really hard and good the day after the West Ham game, trained good yesterday is really positive towards his teammates.

“In that sense, he's been an example for all these players when he played and now he's an example of how to react If you don't play.”