Liverpool legend urges Arne Slot to keep Mohamed Salah on bench for Sunderland clash
Steve Nicol has issued a stern warning to Arne Slot, cautioning that reinstating Mohamed Salah in the starting line-up against Sunderland could be a 'big mistake'. The Egyptian ace was left on the bench during Liverpool's 2-0 triumph over West Ham United on Sunday.
The 33-year-old had been a constant fixture in Slot's Premier League team last season, helping Liverpool clinch the title.
Consequently, the match in London marked the first time Salah was named as a substitute in the English top-flight since his infamous sideline spat with former manager Jurgen Klopp before coming on at West Ham in April 2024.
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Liverpool bounced back from consecutive heavy defeats to Man City, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, securing a much-needed victory at the London Stadium. Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ensured the Reds' return to winning ways, with Salah watching from the sidelines.
Despite losing nine of their last 13 matches in all competitions, this win propelled Liverpool to eighth place in the league table, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Last season, Salah was Liverpool's shining star, scooping up individual awards and clinching both the Golden Boot and Playmaker prizes. He contributed an impressive 29 goals and 18 assists in the English top-flight.
However, with Liverpool's current struggles, he has been unable to replicate such performances. The forward has managed four goals and two assists from 12 Premier League appearances this season, leading to increased criticism for his sub-par performances.
Dominik Szoboszlai was chosen to start on the right-wing against West Ham, as Florian Wirtz returned from injury to take up the number 10 position.
Impressed by the Reds' enhanced performance in the capital, Liverpool legend Nicol advised Slot to keep Salah on the bench for Sunderland's visit to Anfield on Wednesday night.
"He has to (leave him on the bench). He has to," he stated on ESPN. "Absolutely (they're better without him).
"You need to start from the back, you need the base to be right, to be solid and you need to stop giving goals away. You can't expect to score three or four goals every week to win a game.
"If he goes back (into the side) and breaks that shape up... at least they were solid defensively, because of Szoboszlai.
"Okay, he wasn't standing wide the way Mo does and just stands there and waits for the ball. He's getting involved, he's getting back inside, he's helping his full-back.
"The whole shape defensively was miles better. They're not going to get better if they just all of a sudden go back to what they were doing and teams start streaming through them again.
"You've got to look after the base, the solid structure that they had. Yes, it's against West Ham, but it was a solid structure.
"There was no real drama, no running all over the place, no holes. That's what you've got to go from.
"If he (Slot) changes it and brings Mo Salah back against Sunderland, to me that's a big mistake."
Speaking ahead of his side's clash with Sunderland, Slot praised Salah for his reaction to being left out of the side as he admitted that the Egyptian had not been happy with the decision.