Salah’s Bench Reaction: Slot Hails ‘Top Professional’ Amidst Liverpool’s AFCON Challenge and Sunderland Showdown

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has publicly praised star forward Mohamed Salah, labeling him a “top professional” for his reaction to being benched during a recent Premier League fixture. The decision to drop Salah came in the wake of Liverpool’s challenging run, which saw the team suffer nine defeats across 12 competitions.

Salah was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win against West Ham at London Stadium. This marked a significant moment, as it was the first time the Egyptian international had been dropped from a league starting lineup since April 2024, under Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp. Despite an impressive record last season, where he clinched the Golden Boot with 29 goals, Salah has only scored four times in the top flight this season.

Slot conceded it was a “fair assumption” that Salah was unhappy about not playing. “That’s a normal reaction from a player that’s good enough to play for us, and I say that mildly because he has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and will be for the future,” Slot explained. He further added, “He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting and that is normal.”

The manager commended Salah’s conduct, stating he “handled himself really well” despite the disappointment. “He is so disciplined – he knows what to do to stay fit,” Slot remarked. “No matter if he plays well or if he doesn’t play well, if he plays or doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional and that’s what he was in the last two days.” He acknowledged that players experience different phases: “With all players around their world, there are also phases in your time at the club that they are human. He’s scored so many goals for us and I am sure he will in the future.”

Millenium TV can confirm that Liverpool faces an additional challenge with Salah’s impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on December 15, with the tournament final slated for January 18, 2026. This means Salah’s last game before joining his national squad is expected to be on December 13 against Brighton. Should Egypt advance to the final, Salah could miss up to seven matches, including a crucial encounter against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on January 8. Slot did not indicate whether Salah would be rested in the two weeks leading up to AFCON but reiterated the player’s disappointment at being left on the bench.

Currently, defending champions Liverpool are positioned eighth in the Premier League table, trailing leaders Arsenal by nine points. The team is set to host Sunderland on Wednesday before an away fixture against relegation-threatened Leeds. Millenium TV has learned that sixth-placed Sunderland, managed by Regis Le Bris, will arrive at Anfield hoping to secure their first league victory there since 1983, with Slot fully aware of the tough test the Black Cats will present.