Liverpool boss Arne Slot told exactly when he should DROP Mohamed Salah

Arne Slot has been told that the African Cup of Nations provides the perfect opportunity to usher Mohamed Salah out of his Liverpool side. The Egyptian forward has struggled for consistency this season following last year’s standout campaign.

He has five goals in 16 appearances in all competitions, coming after he netted an eye-watering 34 on the way to Liverpool winning the Premier League title.

Despite that success, Slot revamped his attacking options, bringing in Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz for a combined fee of almost £250million. Those moves haven't reaped immediate rewards though, with Ekitike the only one of the trio to hit the ground running.

Salah has also struggled for form, with growing calls for the Egyptian to be dropped to the bench. And former Reds midfielder Don Hutchinson believes AFCON - which kicks off next month - will give Slot the perfect chance to play his new signings together, in a combination that could stick around even after Salah's return.

Speaking to TEAMtalk, Hutchinson said: “If you want to put a positive spin on it, every team in the Premier League would love Wirtz, Isak and Salah. Now Slot’s job is trying to come up with a formula to get all those three into the same 11, with Ekitike, because you can’t spend all that money on Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike and tell them to fight for their place in the side. They have to be starters now.

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"I would be very tempted to play all three from now to the end of the season and play their way into form, into goals, into chemistry, into improving the league position. I know it’s a big jump from now to the end of season, but that will be Liverpool’s team and individuals going forward. That’s what I would look at.

“So the uncomfortable conversation is around why and how you don’t get Mo Salah into that team anymore. Perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations would be the time to try it!”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has already shared his thoughts on Salah’s form and claimed it was of little concern. Speaking last month, the Dutchman said: "The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool.

"The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He's done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the upcoming weeks and months."

Salah is currently away on international duty with Egypt, although it was another difficult outing for the Liverpool man on Friday as the Pharaohs lost 2-0 to Uzbekistan in a friendly.

Salah’s first chance to get his domestic form back on track will come next weekend as Liverpool welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday.

Like Salah, the Reds have also endured a tricky start to the new season. The reigning champions currently sit eighth in the Premier League table after losing five out of their opening 11 games of the campaign - their most recent game ending in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool have, however, had a better start to their latest Champions League campaign, winning three out of their first four league stage fixtures.