Liverpool just had a 2-0 victory over West Ham. Notably, Mohamed Salah did not play. He was on the bench for the whole match. Coach Arne Slot trusted Isak, Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and was rewarded.
When asked why Salah was left out, Arne Slot said: Ive received this question a lot. That happens every time Liverpool plays and I don't play Florian Wirtz, don't play Alexander Isak, don't play Hugo Ekitike, don't play Mo Salah.
This is normal because they are all excellent players. For Salah, he has had an incredible career at Liverpool and will have a very good future at the club because he is a special player.
With four games played over 10 days with only 14 to 15 players on the pitch, you have to decide your lineup and try to pick the best players for each game. Today, with West Ham arranging a full-back who always comes up and a winger who always comes in, I think my arrangement can help the team. As I said, Salah is very important for Liverpool and will continue to be so in the future.
This week, Liverpool will play 2 more matches in the Premier League, respectively against Sunderland (home) and Leeds United (away). With a very tight schedule, Arne Slot rotated the squad to ensure the players' physical strength. In addition, for Salah, he has not been in good form since the beginning of the season. The Egyptian striker has only scored 4 goals in 12 matches since the beginning of the season, with 8 shortages.
In addition to getting 3 points against West Ham, Liverpool fans were also happy when striker Alexander Isak scored his first goal in the Premier League. The Swedish striker scored after Gakpo's pass. This will help Isak play more confidently in the upcoming matches.
I have been waiting for this goal for a long time. As a striker, scoring is always my goal. I myself am trying to get back to my best form and am on my way to do that, Isak said after the match.
The victory over West Ham helped Liverpool end a streak of 3 consecutive losses in all competitions. According to Isak, Liverpool should enjoy the 3 points they have but also have to be modest because the team has gone through a difficult period. He emphasized that Liverpool need to focus and maintain stability and form as in the win over West Ham.
