Mohamed Salah was named among the substitutes for the third consecutive game as Liverpool took on Leeds United at Elland Road, with Arne Slot once again making bold selection calls in search of consistency.
The Reds entered the fixture looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games, but the Dutch boss opted to keep both Salah and Alexander Isak on the bench, maintaining faith in the side that earned a hard-fought point against Sunderland in midweek.
Slot’s decision to drop Salah for the first time in the Premier League earlier this month raised eyebrows, particularly given the Egyptian’s long-standing influence at Anfield. That call, however, paid off immediately — Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 without their talisman, and the manager has since stuck by his tactical plan.
Mohamed Salah did make a brief appearance as a substitute during the 1-1 draw with Sunderland, but was unable to spark the kind of match-winning moment fans have come to expect.
Speaking ahead of the Leeds clash, Slot defended his handling of the 32-year-old, while acknowledging the scrutiny surrounding his selection choices.
“Every player in my mind can start, and Mohamed Salah is an exceptional player for us,” Slot explained. “He’s always in my thoughts to either start or come off the bench. I understand the chatter because he’s been so influential for six or seven years. It’s normal that people talk when he isn’t playing.”
Mohamed Salah was joined on the bench by record signing Alexander Isak, who has struggled to make an impact since his £125 million move. The Swede started in midweek but was replaced in the lineup by Hugo Ekitike, who leads the attack alongside Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo.
Elsewhere, Conor Bradley returned at right-back in place of Joe Gomez, while Curtis Jones earned a start ahead of Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Federico Chiesa, another player pushing for more minutes, was again among the substitutes despite fan calls for his inclusion.
“Every player has the possibility to start,” Slot added. “We just have many options in his position, and he’s made a good impact coming off the bench a few times.”
Liverpool XI vs Leeds United: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
