As a lifelong Premier League fan and someone who spends far too many hours dissecting tactics, I've watched Mohamed Salah transform from a fast, direct winger into one of the Premier League's greatest ever forwards.
But Arne Slot's decision to drop Mohamed Salah from the Liverpool squad wasn't just about form or rotation. It was a bold and, honestly, necessary message about discipline and unity. Slot handled it better than many expected, prioritising the whole squad ahead of a superstar.
The tension didn't come out of nowhere. It really escalated after Salah was benched for the Liverpool 1-1 draw against Sunderland . Slot defended the decision by saying he needed to manage minutes, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
