In a significant tactical shift, Liverpool manager Arne Slot made the decisive choice to relegate star forward Mohamed Salah to the bench for the club’s pivotal Premier League clash against West Ham. This move, which contributed to a crucial 2-0 victory, marked the first time since April 2024 that the Egyptian international was omitted from the starting lineup in league play. The decision arrives amidst a dire run of form for the Reds, who have suffered nine defeats across their last twelve matches in all competitions. Slot publicly lauded Salah’s reaction to the demotion, characterizing the prolific scorer as a ‘top professional’ for his disciplined response. Despite winning the Golden Boot last season with 29 goals, Salah’s production has sharply declined this campaign, netting only four times in the Premier League. Slot acknowledged it was a ‘fair assumption’ that the player was displeased, noting such a reaction is normal for a player of his caliber. The manager further emphasized Salah’s critical future role with the club while confirming his imminent departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) beginning December 15th. His absence could extend until January 19th if Egypt reaches the final, potentially causing him to miss seven fixtures, including a high-stakes encounter with league leaders Arsenal. Currently sitting eighth in the table and trailing Arsenal by nine points, the defending champions now face the immediate challenge of fixtures against Sunderland and Leeds as they navigate a period of transition without their key attacker.