Liverpool boss Arne Slot praises 'professional' Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was benched by Slot for the vist to the London Stadium on Sunday. Pic: Adam Davy/PA

Mohamed Salah's reaction to being dropped has been nothing other than professional, according to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

The Egypt international was left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes of the win at West Ham on Sunday, the first time he had not been in a Premier League starting line-up since April 2024.

Slot admitted the 33-year-old did not appreciate being omitted but had produced the model response.

Asked whether Salah had been unhappy with the decision, the Reds boss said: "That is a fair assumption and a normal reaction from a player that is good enough to play for us.

"Of course a player is not happy he isn't playing. He was not the only one who wasn't happy he wasn't starting, I can tell you - and that's normal.

"But the way he behaved is what you would expect from the professional he is. He was very supportive for his team-mates, handled himself really well during the day and yesterday in the session as well.

"You cannot be a player that's available every three days and play at those high standards if you go with your emotions but Mo is so disciplined.

"No matter if he plays well or if he doesn't play he will always be that top professional and that is what he's been in the last few days."

With Salah having only four more games before he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, with the potential for him to miss at least seven matches should Egypt reach the final, Slot has to get the most out of the player.

He will likely return to the starting line-up for the visit of Sunderland on Wednesday but such was the success of the remodelled formation, with Florian Wirtz impressing as the number 10 and Dominik Szoboszlai on the right with Alexander Isak up front, Slot may be tempted to go with it again at Leeds on Saturday.

Decisions have to be made over the management of Wirtz, Isak and defender Joe Gomez, who played only his third 90 minutes since Boxing Day, but the Reds boss has not ruled out starting all three.

"I think they are not able to play three times 90, that's for sure, and now I have to wait and see how they feel today and if they are able to play from the start again," Slot added.

"But all three can be involved in all three games if they don't get an injury, that is a fair assumption to make."

Gomez may get some support with Conor Bradley returning to training this week, with fellow right-back Jeremie Frimpong set to step up his recovery from injury next week.

Bradley could make the squad for Leeds on Saturday, although Frimpong will not be available until the following weekend at the earliest.