Salah absent pour le déplacement à Milan en Ligue des champions

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah participated in training ahead of the Champions League match against Inter Milan, yet the Egyptian star is still expected to be left out of the squad. Despite being fit, his exclusion appears to be linked to ongoing tension with manager Arne Slot.

Salah has now been omitted for three consecutive fixtures. After the recent 3–3 draw against Leeds, he reportedly expressed frustration, saying he felt unfairly blamed for the team’s current struggles and hinting at a breakdown in trust with Slot.

These developments come at a crucial period for Liverpool’s domestic and European ambitions. With uncertainty surrounding his short-term future, the next few weeks could decide Salah’s role at the club going forward.

Premier League : Salah remplaçant pour la deuxième fois consécutive

Arne Slot once again decided not to start Mohamed Salah in Wednesday’s Premier League match, marking the second straight game the Egyptian began on the bench. This decision suggests that Salah’s long-standing status as an automatic starter may be changing during his ninth season at Liverpool.

Salah appeared as a second-half substitute in the 1–1 draw against Sunderland but failed to score. Previously, he remained unused in the 2–0 away win at West Ham — the first time he had been left out of a league starting XI since Slot arrived in 2024. Salah had been one of the key players in Slot’s title-winning campaign, scoring 29 goals.

Slot acknowledged that Salah was unhappy about being benched but praised his professionalism. He instead opted to keep Dominic Szoboszlai on the right wing, citing defensive stability: “We needed more balance without the ball to avoid conceding like in recent weeks,” the coach explained.

With three matches left before Salah joins Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, Slot refused to confirm whether he will start against Leeds, saying he has “an idea” but will reveal nothing. Salah currently has four Premier League goals this season.

Liverpool gagne sans Salah : Slot tente de calmer les inquiétudes

Liverpool managed a 2–0 victory over West Ham United without Mohamed Salah taking part, a decision that raised further questions regarding his form and relationship with the coaching staff.

After the match, Arne Slot defended his choices:

“We have top-quality players — Wirtz, Isak, Ekitiké, Salah. You can’t start all of them every match. With four games in ten days and a limited number of available outfield players, we must rotate. Salah has already done great things here, and he still has a bright future at the club.”

This marked the first match Salah missed entirely this season. The Egyptian has also faced recent media criticism regarding a perceived lack of defensive involvement. So far, he has four goals in 12 Premier League appearances.