"Let’s wait and see": Is Mohamed Salah heading back into Liverpool’s starting XI on Wednesday?

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·30 novembre 2025

"Let’s wait and see": Is Mohamed Salah heading back into Liverpool’s starting XI on Wednesday?

Dutch coach explains very difficult decision to bench the Egyptian star vs West Ham

"Let’s wait and see": Is Mohamed Salah heading back into Liverpool’s starting XI on Wednesday?

OneFootball Video

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has left the door open - without giving any guarantees - regarding Mohamed Salah’s possible return to the starting lineup when the Reds face Sunderland on Wednesday.

The Egyptian forward was the headline omission during Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Ham as Slot made the bold call to leave his top scorer on the bench following run of three consecutive Premier League defeats.

🚨 Mo Salah, benched for Liverpool today. Arne Slot: “We play 4 games in 10 days. Sometimes Alex is on the bench, sometimes Florian. This is the 11 I chose today. It’s never an easy decision to make, it’s not the first time I’ve done this”.
– domenica 30 novembre 2025

Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, Slot admitted the choice was far from easy:

“We’ve played many matches recently (I think four in ten days) and we have squad full of high quality players,” he said. “Mo has always been extremely important for the club and he will continue to be. But let’s wait and see what happens on Wednesday against Sunderland.”

No Mohamed Salah in the starting XI today for Liverpool. This is the first time under Arne Slot that Salah has not been included in the starting line up for a Premier League game. #BBCFootball
– domenica 30 novembre 2025

The Dutch manager acknowledged supporters frustration over Salah’s exclusion:

“It was a very difficult decision and I understand why people ask about it. But sometimes Isak sits on the bench, sometimes Wirtz does. That’s the reality of our squad.”