With Mo Salah dropped from the team and Liverpool subsequently going on a 13-match unbeaten run, Arne Slot reportedly “privately felt vindicated” by his decision.
When Salah was left out of the side for Liverpool’s 2-0 win at West Ham on November 30, there were few who believed he could complain.
The Egyptian was playing poorly and while he wasn’t the main reason that Liverpool were failing, most thought he hadn’t exactly earned his place in the starting XI based on his current form.
With Salah out of the side then away at AFCON, Liverpool went on a 13-match unbeaten run which led to Slot believing he had made the right choice.
The Liverpool Echo‘s Paul Gorst wrote: “It’s understood Slot privately felt vindicated by his decision to take Salah out of the team, believing it made his side more compact out of possession.”
Salah took exception to Slot’s decision to drop him and, having been left out again for three consecutive matches, gave his infamous interview after a draw at Leeds.
Among other things, the 33-year-old said that he no longer had “any relationship” with Slot and Salah was subsequently dropped for Liverpool’s win away win over Inter.
The Egyptian then left for AFCON and went straight back into the side upon his return in late January.
Should Arne Slot have felt vindicated by dropping Mo Salah?
At first glance, the answer would be yes, Slot was right to drop Salah for tactical reasons. However, upon further inspection, the 13-game run didn’t quite provide the turnaround Slot had hoped for.
Firstly, it is important to note that Salah didn’t sit on the bench for the 13-match unbeaten streak; he actually played the final match, a 3-0 win at Marseille.
More importantly, though, the Egyptian was at AFCON for seven of those matches.
While the Reds improved slightly during the 13-match period, the bar was exceptionally low after losing nine of their previous 12 games.
Liverpool FC: 13-Game Unbeaten Run (2025/26)
| Oppo. | Score |
|---|---|
| West Ham (A) | 0-2 |
| Sunderland (H) | 1-1 |
| Leeds (A) | 3-3 |
| Inter (A) | 0-1 |
| Brighton (H) | 2-0 |
| Tottenham (A) | 1-2 |
| Wolves (H) | 2-1 |
| Leeds (H) | 0-0 |
| Fulham (A) | 2-2 |
| Arsenal (A) | 0-0 |
| Barnsley (H) | 4-1 |
| Burnley (H) | 1-1 |
| Marseille (A) | 0-3 |
From the 13 unbeaten games, Liverpool picked up seven wins and six draws, including drab home displays against Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley.
In 180 minutes at Anfield against Sunderland and Leeds, the Reds had just three big chances, per FotMob‘s definition.
Slot’s side were playing conservatively and picking up more points than before, but this was no long-term fix.
Mo Salah’s exit viewed as “smart call”
While Salah’s decision to leave this summer was made of his own volition, journalist Gorst has reported that “the decision to remove the highest-earning player ever is viewed internally as a smart call, regardless of the lack of a transfer fee.”
Despite his contract running until 2027, the player and club came to a mutual agreement to end his deal this summer; Salah earns about £450,000 per week and his departure would save nearly £21 million next season in wages.
There wasn’t a will to offload him earlier, though, as “Liverpool received no approaches for Salah in the January market,” noted the Echo reporter.
As for his next destination, the player himself doesn’t yet know where he will be playing the 2026/27 campaign.
His agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, said: “We do not know where Mohamed will play next season. This also means that no one else knows. Beware of the click-whoring attention seekers.”
It will be a sad day when Salah leaves but it is probably for the best.
Even if his drop in form has been exaggerated by a failing team, there has been no denying that his performance levels have lowered, and Liverpool prefer not to have a declining figure as their highest-paid player.