The BBC has cast renewed attention on the evolving situation of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah at Liverpool after he was left on the bench during the Reds’ 2–0 victory over West Ham United—an outcome shaped by goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo and one that may signal the earliest outlines of “Liverpool without Salah.” The network noted that the London Stadium, historically a venue of decisive moments for the Egyptian icon, became instead the backdrop to Arne Slot’s boldest selection decision since taking charge: excluding Salah from the Premier League starting lineup for the first time since April 2024. Klopp once made the same choice in a similar fixture, but this time, observers argue, the decision seems more structural than situational.
Slot’s move came amid an extensive £450 million summer rebuild, a process that has radically reshaped the team’s tactical identity and personnel structure. While the decision does not indicate the end of Salah’s Liverpool career, the BBC emphasized that it undeniably carries a message about the club’s next phase. Public voices such as Wayne Rooney have already endorsed benching Salah due to his dip in form, framing Slot’s stance as a necessary step in asserting his authority during a period of transition. The match against West Ham provided the first real glimpse of this “new Liverpool,” and the early indicators were striking. Liverpool ended a damaging run of nine defeats in 12 matches, including six losses in their previous seven Premier League fixtures, by deploying a refreshed, more balanced lineup that recovered fluency in attack and discipline in defense.
Isak, who arrived from Newcastle in a record £125 million deal, scored his first Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt, ending a 310-minute drought and signaling his readiness to assume a central attacking role. Florian Wirtz, acquired for £116 million, delivered a dynamic performance that justified every expectation surrounding him, injecting pace, intelligence, and technical precision into Liverpool’s forward play. Slot also restored Dominik Szoboszlai to his natural position on the right flank rather than the makeshift full-back role he had occupied in previous weeks, which immediately improved Liverpool’s structure in midfield transitions. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez returned to right-back for the first time in nearly a year, contributing to a defensive solidity that saw Liverpool secure a clean sheet after conceding ten goals in their previous three matches.
All of these tactical shifts converged to produce the central talking point: Salah watched the transformation unfold from the bench. With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching and his form fluctuating, his guaranteed starting status is now less certain than at any time in his Liverpool career. Slot has repeatedly stated that Salah, who signed a two-year extension in the summer, remains “very important” to the squad, yet the realities of form and tactical demands appear to be forcing a recalibration of his role. BBC analysts stressed that Slot’s decision was not only justified but necessary. Alan Shearer told the network that Slot “had to make big decisions,” adding that Salah “can’t object because he’s not at his best.” Shearer also noted that the reshuffled lineup “worked for Liverpool, and it worked for Isak who made the difference today.”
Salah’s statistics, however, remain unmatched. With 419 matches played for Liverpool—383 as a starter—he has scored 250 goals in all competitions. In the Premier League, he has made 300 appearances and scored 188 goals, maintaining a remarkable 64% win rate when involved. Across all competitions, Liverpool won 263 matches with Salah in the squad, a success rate of 63%. These numbers underline why his legacy is already secure and why his influence, even when his form dips, cannot be easily dismissed. Yet they also illustrate the magnitude of the challenge for Slot: he must prepare Liverpool for a future that will inevitably arrive, whether in two years or sooner.
Attention now turns to whether Salah will return to the starting lineup against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday. Isak’s renewed confidence following his long-awaited goal and Wirtz’s growing impact give Slot legitimate reasons to continue experimenting. The question is no longer simply whether Salah starts, but what version of Liverpool Slot is trying to build—and where, within that future, one of the club’s greatest icons will fit. The match against Sunderland will provide the next clue in a story that is becoming increasingly complex: Salah remains central to Liverpool’s identity, but the team is being rebuilt around new pillars, new priorities, and a new manager who appears ready to make decisions once considered unthinkable.
