It’s no secret that Liverpool are in a race for Champions League qualification for next season. Arne Slot has gone on record as saying that it is an absolute requirement for a club like Liverpool. Although the Reds are in a better spot statistically to make the UCL next season, it may be time for Liverpool to take a drastic step to ensure it: LIVERPOOL SHOULD DROP MOHAMED SALAH FROM THE STARTING XI!!.
That’s right. The Egyptian King should come down from his throne to the bench and be used as a super sub as the EPL season starts to wind down. This decision is not based on a whim and should not be made lightly. There are several factors at play here, so let’s dive into it.
His Age
Father time catches up to us all. At 33, Salah is no different. The eye test tells you his performance has dipped dramatically even from last year, but stats tell the same story; see the chart.
| Metric | 2024–25 (This Time) | 2025–26 (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | ~18 | 4 |
| Assists | ~12 | 6 |
| Appearances | ~24 | 19 |
| G/A Per Game | ~1.25 | 0.53 |
Stats don’t tell the whole story, but anyone watching can tell he has lost a step and, even more worrying, gets the ball taken off him with greater frequency. More time on the bench will allow him to recover, and if he only plays 30 minutes or so, he can pour all his energy into that time instead of trying to conserve it to play a full 90. I would rather have Salah for 30 minutes with a full tank than him going at 75 or 80 per cent over 90.
His Attitude
Many commentators and pundits have noted that Salah is at his most dangerous when he is smiling. Well, Salah has not done much smiling lately. He is visibly frustrated on the pitch and even more so when he is taken off. I could understand him being upset. Players want to play, but don’t sulk on the bench and let the cameras catch you doing it, like at the end of the Forest game.
He has had a rather public falling out with Arne Slot. Maybe the fences are not mended as much as we thought. I will admit that Slot is asking Salah to be a creator more than a scorer, but that’s no reason to have a bad attitude about it.
His Aura
This is not as concrete as the other points, but it does not seem as if players fear Salah’s ability like they used to. He used to cut around defenders, cross them up and maybe pull off a few nutmegs along the way. Now, defenders press him tightly. To be fair, Salah is still adept at finding space in front of the goal as he leads the EPL with 135 touches in the opposition box, but his shot accuracy and shot production have slipped; see the chart.
| Season | Shot Conversion Rate | Shots per 90 | Goals per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 20.2% | 3.4 | 0.68 |
| 2025/26 | 15.8% | 2.0 | 0.32 |
The Solution
If Salah drops to the bench, who plays as the Right Winger in the 4-2-3-1 formation?
When he gets healthy again, I would put Jeremie Frimpong in at Right Back and move Dominik Szoboszlai up to the wing. A popular choice for next season and beyond would be to letRio Ngumoha anchor the Right Wing. He has the talent to do it now, but Slot says he is not quite ready yet.
Have Your Say
What are your thoughts? Would you drop the Egyptian King to the bench, or do you think all of his greatness and accomplishments have earned him more time to work out of this current run of bad form? Drop a comment below.