NO MO SALAH, NO PROBLEM: SLOT EXPLAINS BENCH DECISION AFTER 2-0 VICTORY
Arne Slot successfully benched Mo Salah for tactical rotation in a 2-0 win over West Ham. Slot defended the move, as Florian Wirtz had his best game yet.
Liverpool's star player, Mo Salah, who had faced criticism during a tough stretch where they lost nine out of 12 games, didn't play at all in their important 2-0 win against West Ham. He joined Giorgi Mamardashvili, Curtis Jones, and Hugo Ekitike on the bench. Florian Wirtz and Alisson Becker were back after being out with injuries and illness, respectively, along with Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez.
It was a risky move by Slot, who's been under pressure, but it worked out. Wirtz, the £116 million signing, had what Jamie Carragher called his best game in English football so far. Isak also scored his first league goal since his £125m transfer from Newcastle last summer.
Before the West Ham game, Slot said Salah's absence was simply to rotate the team because of the busy schedule. He said the same thing after the game, also explaining the tactics behind his choice.
“I get this question a lot,” he said. “It's the same every time we play a game, and Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, or Mo Salah don’t play.
“It’s normal to get these questions because they’re all great players. Mo has had an amazing career here and will continue to be great because he’s special.
“With four games in 10 days and only 14 or 15 outfield players available, you have to decide on a lineup and pick the best one for each game.
“Against West Ham, with their setup of a very high full-back and a winger cutting inside, I thought this lineup would help the team. Mo has been important for this club and will continue to be.”
Wirtz played against West Ham after missing the losses to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven due to an injury. However, Liverpool was still missing right-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, as well as Giovani Leoni.
Kerkez should be fine, even though he was replaced by Andy Robertson late in the game.
“It was just a cramp,” Slot said about Kerkez. “Bowen's only chance came when Kerkez was out, but it wasn't because of the replacement.
“That was their only chance, and it was because of that. He had a good defensive game.
“He was also a threat to attack a few times in the first half, and one of his crosses could have led to a goal if we were in better form.
“It shows that some players need time to get used to the League and playing three games a week.
“So, it's not surprising that Milos had a cramp. He’s not completely used to this schedule, and he always gives it his all.”
ALISSON "OPEN" TO LIVERPOOL EXIT AS JUVENTUS PREPARE MASSIVE SWAP DEAL OFFER
With Alisson Becker open to a Juventus move, Liverpool is scouring the market for a replacement ahead of a major summer rebuild.
Liverpool isn’t just sitting around; it’s actively searching for someone to take Alisson Becker’s spot since Juventus looks serious about making a bid for their veteran keeper. Even though Alisson’s got a year left on his deal after the club triggered an extension back in March, he might leave this summer.
He’s been Liverpool’s go-to guy in goal since he arrived from Roma in 2018; he’s played 332 games, cost £67 million, and for years, he was untouchable. But injuries have piled up during the 2025/26 season, and it’s starting to look like his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.
Juventus are now right in the mix. Apparently, Alisson isn’t against the idea of leaving Liverpool, and Juventus could even throw their own goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, into the deal for the Brazilian.
Juve are ready to offer Alisson a contract running through the summer of 2028, with an extra year as an option. Sky Sports says Liverpool already knows what’s happening and is getting their ducks in a row before a massive transfer window.
The club’s facing a big summer. Salah and Robertson are going, and now they might need a new keeper too. Giorgi Mamardashvili has stepped up when Alisson was out, playing 18 games across all competitions, but he’s injured himself, leaving Slot with just Freddie Woodman as his only fit option.
Recently, Slot was asked if losing Alisson at the same time as Robertson and Salah would be too much. He said, “The club makes decisions it thinks are right. If this happens, there's a reason behind it, maybe another good reason why we did what we did.”
He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t make transfers on a whim. Decisions are thought through, with the club’s interests always at heart.
Regarding keeping Alisson for his experience, Slot admitted that’s one argument, but there are others and, ultimately, the club will decide what’s best. Alisson’s contract still has a year left.
When pressed about Juventus, Slot replied, “Ali’s main focus is clear; he wants to get back in goal for Liverpool as soon as possible and then play for Brazil. That’s his short- and mid-term future.”
LIVERPOOL WARNED TO OFFER CURTIS JONES NEW CONTRACT BEFORE 14-MONTH DEADLINE
Analysis: Curtis Jones’ elite passing stats and why Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool cannot afford to lose the versatile midfielder.
Liverpool really needs to sort out a new contract for Curtis Jones before they make the same mistake it did with Luis Diaz. That’s what the Inside Liverpool panel thinks, especially now that Diaz is lighting up Bayern Munich and making Liverpool’s transfer moves look pretty questionable.
Bayern’s front three, with Diaz in the mix, have racked up 100 goals across all competitions this season – the first time any non-Spanish team has done that. Diaz himself has bagged 26 goals in 46 matches and just scored against PSG in the Champions League semi-final.
Looking back, Liverpool probably wish they hadn’t let Diaz walk for £65 million last summer. Since then, fans at Anfield haven’t seen anyone who brings what he did: that relentless pressing, always looming as a threat on the counter. Sure, they’ve brought in Rio Ngumoha, a teenager, just 17, but Arne Slot, the coach, knows you can’t just expect him to fill those shoes right away.
On talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, Jermaine Pennant, who has played for the club, said that Liverpool has to bring in another proven attacker over the summer. Pennant’s point: Diaz was great whether he played in the middle or on the left, and Liverpool needs someone with that kind of flexibility. You don’t want to sign a backup like Hugo Ekitike and then end up overcrowding with too many strikers when the main guy returns.
Now, Jones could end up in the same boat this summer. There’s a lot of uncertainty around his future, and when you look at the numbers, he’s only got 14 months left on his contract. Several clubs in England and Europe are watching, and he’s only started 15 games for Liverpool this season.
Even though he hasn’t played much, Jones is impressing; he’s second only to Rodri in midfielder passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He’s also ranked second behind Moises Caicedo for passing accuracy, and right behind Rayan Cherki for carries. Pennant said the club can’t afford to let him go: Jones is so versatile; you can play him anywhere in midfield or even right back. He knows the club, loves it, and helps connect the squad.
Jones has been one of the top performers recently. Pennant thinks Liverpool should offer him a new deal, especially since the squad is thinning out and they’ve already lost Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the end, it’s up to Jones if he wants to stay or move for more game time, but Liverpool has to make the offer while they still can.
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