Liverpool selection shock explained as Arne Slot reveals new injury update | OneFootball

Under-fire Reds boss made some bold calls in much-needed 2-0 win over West Ham

Liverpool stalwart Salah - who had been subject to strong criticism during a dire run of nine defeats in 12 games across all competitions - did not play a single minute of a vital 2-0 Premier League victory for the Reds at the London Stadium on Sunday, joining Giorgi Mamardashvili, Curtis Jones and Hugo Ekitike in making way as Florian Wirtz and Alisson Becker both returned after injury and illness respectively, along with Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez.

Slot remarked ahead of the game against West Ham that Salah’s demotion was purely as a result of the need to rotate his team amid a hectic fixture list and he repeated that claim after the full-time whistle, also revealing the tactical insight behind the decision.

“I got this question already a lot,” he said. “It's every time we play a game when I don't play Florian Wirtz, when I don't play Alexander Isak, when I don't play Hugo Ekitike, when I don't play Mo Salah.

“It's about that, which is normal because they're all outstanding players and Mo has had an unbelievable career here at this club – and will have a very good future at this club because he's such a special player.

“Four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain lineup and you try to pick the best lineup for every single game.

“Today, with the way they set up, with a full-back that is constantly very high and a winger that is constantly inside, I thought this could help the team. Like I said, he has been so important for this club and will be important for this club in the future.”

Though Wirtz returned against West Ham after missing the humiliating home defeats by Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven with a knock suffered on international duty with Germany, Liverpool remained without right-back duo Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley as well as long-term absentee Giovani Leoni.

However, fellow defender Kerkez is not set for a spell on the sidelines despite concerns when he was replaced by Andy Robertson with five minutes to go in east London.

“It was cramp,” Slot said of the left-back’s withdrawal. “The only moment when [Jarrod] Bowen had a chance was when he [Kerkez] was out but that was nothing to do with the full-back that was in.

“That was the only chance they had and, as a result of that, the only chance Bowen had. A good performance, a good defensive performance from him.

“I think he was attacking-wise a threat a few times in the first half and another time when it didn't lead to a shot on target, but the cut-back cross from him when we overloaded the box.

“These were all moments where if we are in a better moment of form these moments will lead to more goals.

“Good, but it also maybe tells you something I have emphasised a lot of times, some players need to adapt to the Premier League – and I have emphasised a lot of times the fact some players need to adapt to three games a week.

“Maybe it is not a surprise that Milos has cramp in the end for two reasons: he is not completely used to that and, second of all, because he puts so much effort in every single time he plays.”