Mohamed Salah has recently been benched at Liverpool mainly for tactical reasons linked to defense and team balance, not because of an injury. The situation has then been inflamed by tension between Salah and head coach Arne Slot over the decision and Salah’s public reaction.
Coach’s tactical reasons
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said he benched Salah to make the team more solid defensively after a poor run of results, feeling Salah’s limited defensive contribution was exposing the side. Slot also framed it as a game‑to‑game tactical call, insisting he must pick the lineup that best fits specific opponents, even if that means leaving out a star player.
Form, defense and results
The decision came after a bad spell where Liverpool had lost a high number of games, prompting Slot to change structure and personnel in attack. Since Salah was left out of the XI, Liverpool collected some points and appeared a bit more stable, which strengthened Slot’s justification for keeping him on the bench.
Growing tension and dispute
Salah publicly complained that he had been “thrown under the bus” and unfairly blamed, saying he did not understand why he was on the bench after all he had done for the club. This escalated the story into a wider dispute about his future and relationship with Slot, with some observers comparing it to Cristiano Ronaldo’s late spell at Manchester United.
Current status
After being benched for several league games and even omitted from one European matchday squad, Salah has recently been brought back into the squad following talks with Slot, though still not guaranteed a starting place. His situation remains under close scrutiny because of the ongoing tension, his star status, and his upcoming departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
