Liverpool boss Arne Slot has dropped a quiet but telling hint about Mohamed Salah’s role ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster clash with Manchester United.
The Reds’ talisman hasn’t been at his electric best this season, and fans are beginning to wonder if he might finally face a rare spell on the sidelines.
Salah has three goals and three assists in nine league games — decent numbers, but not quite the superhuman standards Liverpool supporters have grown used to.
The team, meanwhile, have hit a rough patch, losing three straight matches across competitions.
That includes a painful Champions League defeat to Galatasaray, leaving Slot with more questions than answers going into the biggest fixture of the season.
The Dutch manager was asked about Salah’s dip in form — and whether he could be “rested” against United.
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His response? Calm, clever, and cryptic. “I could show you five or six moments where Mo could have made the difference for us,” Slot said.
“If that had happened, we would have had the same conversation as last season when he made the difference so many times.”
Hint or headline? Slot’s subtle Salah shuffle
Getty Images
Salah’s defensive work has also come under the spotlight. Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella recently admitted that his team “targeted” Liverpool’s right flank, hinting that Salah’s positioning left gaps to exploit.
But Slot didn’t seem too worried. Instead of criticizing the Egyptian, he suggested others needed to help out more.
“We concede too many crosses, I’m aware of that and we have to do better,” he admitted. “It’s always about finding the right balance between attack and defense.”
Still, there might be a twist in the tale. Slot also mentioned that Federico Chiesa “deserves a little bit more playing time,” adding, “You could maybe see this in a bigger way on Sunday.”
That sounds like a hint that Salah could see his minutes managed — or even start from the bench, though that remains unlikely.
For all the talk, it’s hard to imagine Salah missing this one. He’s scored 16 goals and set up six more in 17 matches against United — a record that would make any striker smile.
And with Anfield ready to roar, this might just be the perfect game for the Egyptian King to remind everyone why his crown still fits.
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