Salah a top professional after being dropped – Slot

Mohamed Salah’s response to being dropped was described by Liverpool manager Arne Slot as “top professional.”

Salah was named on the bench for Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League victory at West Ham following nine defeats in all 12 games.

Since April 2024, he has been dropped for the league under Slot’s successor Jurgen Klopp.

Salah, an international from Egypt, scored only four goals in the top flight this season, despite having the Golden Boot last season with 29 goals.

“That’s a typical response from a player who’s good enough to play for us,” Slot said. “I say that mildly because he has been so outstanding for this club for so long and will be for the future,” he said.

“He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t content that he wasn’t beginning, which is normal.”

Despite being dropped, Slot claimed Salah “handled himself really well.”

He has a lot of discipline, and he knows how to stay healthy, Slot said.

“He will always be that top professional, and that’s what he was in the last two days,” he said. Whether he plays well or not, or whether he plays well or not.

There are times when you spend time with the club that players are human, just like there are with all the players in their own world. He has already scored so many goals for us, and I’m confident he will.

Slot confirmed that Salah will not be available for Liverpool until December 15 when he travels to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). On January 18, 2026, the final is held.

Without him, Slot said, “We have to find a way to play,” according to Slot.

Liverpool, the defending champions, are eighth in the Premier League, nine points clear of Arsenal.

Since Slot has confirmed that Salah will leave for Afcon on December 15, that means that his final game against Brighton is scheduled for December 13th.

Salah won’t travel to Merseyside until at least January 19th if Egypt reach the final.

That would mean he would miss seven games, including the Emirates Stadium match against Arsenal on January 8.

Salah was left on the bench at West Ham after Slot’s refusal to say whether he would leave him out for the following two weeks, but the Reds manager acknowledged the Egyptian was disappointed.

Six-placed Sunderland will be hoping to win at Anfield for the first time since 1983, despite the fact that Liverpool have lost their previous two games at home.