Liverpool faced off with Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland at Anfield on December 3, eyeing up a second straight win.
Arne Slot made some bold calls with his team selection against Sunderland.
Most notably, Mohamed Salah was, for the second gameweek in a row, left on the bench behind Dominik Szoboszlai.
Elsewhere, despite fitness concerns over three Liverpool players during such a hectic period, the remainder of the starting eleven, apart from Andy Robertson, remained the same.
It was a good chance to see if the win over West Ham was nothing more than a blip or if Slot has finally found his best team following a raft of changes over the summer.
What changes would you make to Liverpool’s starting XI vs Sunderland?
- Alisson
- Gomez
- Konate
- Van Dijk
- Robertson
- Mac Allister
- Gravenberch
- Wirtz
- Szoboszlai
- Isak
- Gakpo
Subs: Chiesa, Ekitike, Jones, Salah, Endo, Kerkez, Mamardashvili, Nyoni, Ngumoha
Liverpool fans question Mohamed Salah vs Sunderland
While the main focus should have been on the pitch, a lot of attention quickly turned towards Salah.
The Sky Sports cameras panned to the 33-year-old on the bench, who was spotted covering his face with some form of headwear.
Many Liverpool fans have since taken to social media to react to the player ‘hiding’ from the cameras.
One fan wrote: “Weird from Salah.”
A second added: “Salah doing his best to hide there, how is he taking being benched twice in a row.”
“I’m cryin Salah tryna hide from the camera,” tweeted a third.
In response to the player’s attire on the night, another supporter wrote: “I get it Salah I wouldn’t want to be openly associated with them either.”
A fifth asked: “Why’s Salah hiding his face?” followed by three crying emojis, and another echoed: “Why’s Salah hiding on the bench?”
A seventh claimed: “Salah doing that for the cameras,” with an eighth agreeing: “Mo Salah sulking on the bench like a big baby covering his head and making a point by doing so.”
How has Mohamed Salah reacted to being out of the team?
“We haven’t had a long conversation. We spoke a lot after the Frankfurt game, and now not as much. He reacts like you want, a top professional. He trains really good and is positive towards his team-mates. He’s an example when he plays, and now he’s an example of how to act when you don’t play.”
Arne Slot on dropping Mohamed Salah for consecutive matches
Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp react to Mohamed Salah snub
Prior to kick-off, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp shared their thoughts on the decision to bench Salah for a second game in a row.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp said: “They’ve got to start building a team around the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. As good as Salah has been, everything comes to an end.”
Meanwhile, Carragher was surprised the winger did not start this game: “I think it’s huge news. I expected Mo Salah to play today. Arne Slot can dress the weekend up as Liverpool have four games in 10 days, and you have to look at which games you play him in.
“Sunderland will play deep and make it difficult so I expected this to be the one where Salah plays. For him to be on the bench doesn’t feel like rest or rotation, it’s dropped.”
Liverpool are next in action against Leeds United before meetings with Inter Milan (December 9) and Brighton (December 13).
The clash with the Seagulls will be the final match before Salah leaves for the AFCON on December 15.
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