English newspapers sharply criticised Mohamed Salah after Arne Slot decided to leave the Egyptian forward on the bench in Liverpool’s win over West Ham United, and they praised the manager for taking what they described as a bold and timely decision.
The Telegraph highlighted the shift in Liverpool’s attacking approach.
The newspaper wrote that Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz offered a clear glimpse of what the club’s future could look like without Salah leading the front line.
The report noted that Slot trusted the new arrivals and shaped his attack around them, while Salah watched the match from the sidelines for the first time since Jürgen Klopp’s arrival at Anfield.
The Telegraph described Liverpool’s display as the first real sign of the costly rebuild Slot initiated finally taking shape.
According to the paper, Salah’s absence allowed Isak and Wirtz to deliver the type of performance supporters expected when they joined the club.
The Guardian drew attention to the suspense surrounding Slot’s team selection.
With Liverpool suffering through a difficult run, the newspaper questioned how long Salah could remain in the starting lineup.
The answer, the report argued, came after Liverpool conceded at least three goals in three straight matches, something the club had not experienced in 75 years.
The Guardian explained that Salah left his full-back exposed too often and that Slot reached a point where he could no longer accept that imbalance.
The paper added that Liverpool struggled with a system built entirely around Salah, and with Dominik Szoboszlai operating in that same role, Slot gained a more defensively reliable option.
The BBC also commented on the manager’s decision. The broadcaster noted that Slot dropped Salah from the starting lineup for the first time since April 2024 and pointed out that the Egyptian had featured in 53 consecutive matches before this game.
BBC analyst Alan Shearer agreed with Slot’s call and described it as an important step based on the club’s recent results.
Shearer stated that Salah must accept the decision since he has not performed at his usual level and stressed that Liverpool needed the change. He also praised Isak, noting that the forward made the difference on the day.
