From Rangers Memory to Rotation: Liverpool Coach Explains Salah Absence from XI

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·30 September 2025

From Rangers Memory to Rotation: Liverpool Coach Explains Salah Absence from XI

Liverpool coach stresses rotation as Egyptian star starts from sidelines in UCL clash

From Rangers Memory to Rotation: Liverpool Coach Explains Salah Absence from XI

Video OneFootball

Liverpool coach Arne Slot's explained his decision to keep Mohamed Salah on the bench for the Champions League group stage clash against Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Rotation over star power

Slot told journalist DaveOCKOP:

"Jeremy isn’t playing as right back but more on the right side. We've many games ahead including another big 1 in few days. We must use our squad smartly and that doesn’t always mean starting players (impact can also come from the bench)”

Team news is in for our clash with Galatasaray ✊ #UCL
– Selasa, 30 September 2025

On Salah’s history from the bench

The Dutch coach even referenced Salah’s famous hat trick off the bench against Rangers in 2022:

"They were talking about it and I know who the Rangers coach was that day (my current assistant, Gio van Bronckhorst) So yes this came up already"

Managing fitness & depth

Slot highlighted the challenges of balancing newcomers with existing players:

"We lost many players, and we've new signings. It takes time for full chemistry. You can’t play the same XI every 3 day. Isak, for example didn’t have complete pre season with Newcastle"

He concluded:

"At Liverpool, the demand's clear: you must win games. Every player knows this. My job's to manage the squad well so we stay competitive"..

Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah no starting: “Indeed, Jeremie is not playing as a right full-back, he’s playing on the right wing. “We also said that we have many games to play. In a few days there’s another big game coming up.” “We have to utilise our squad and utilising doesn’t
– Selasa, 30 September 2025