Mo Salah prediction coming true as Arne Slot takes drastic action

Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah is not a player used to being a substitute, but he found amongst the replacements for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Egypt star was not needed as Arne Slot’s side routed the Bundesliga outfit 5-1, with Hugo Ekitike scoring from his right-wing berth.

Slot made the decision after four successive defeats for the Premier League champions, the latest of which was a stunning 2-1 home loss against Manchester United on Sunday.

With Ekitike in fine form and Salah nowhere near the historic level he produced last season, a prediction made over the Anfield legend’s future has taken another step closer to becoming true.

Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd warned the 33-year-old that he would have to grow used to becoming a substitute if his performances failed to pick up.

“He’s still been scoring goals and still assisting. He’s probably coming back down to a level where everybody else is at. If that’s a drop in form, that’s a worry for everyone else,” the former Scotland striker said.

“But when you look at the talent that Liverpool have got at the top end of the pitch and the money they’ve spent, they can afford to change it.

“Will Mohamed Salah be happy to sit on the bench? No because he never is. He plays the majority of games, every minute of them, because he’s obsessed by scoring goals. He won’t be happy but it might be something he has to deal with going forward.”

Previously, Slot had touted Ekitike for a spot on the left wing and had not intimated that dropping Salah for him was a possibility. His decision in midweek was a big move away from the original plan.

Liverpool bracing for Salah exit

Salah has failed to score or assist in any of his last five Liverpool games while a return of three goals in 12 appearances is uncharacteristically poor from a figure who has been so consistently excellent since arriving at the club for €42 million from Roma in 2017.

FootballTransfers understands that Liverpool intend to sell Salah at the end of the season, with the Egyptian destined for a big-money switch to the Saudi Pro League.

After signing a new contract with the Reds in the spring, he will be determined to regain his level and go out on a high.