Arne Slot has shed light on his bold decision to leave Mohamed Salah out of Liverpool’s starting XI for their Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt the second time in succession the Egyptian has been omitted from a European lineup.
Salah was one of five players to drop out from the side that lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Slot opted for a reshuffle both in attack and midfield.
The Liverpool head coach recalled Hugo Ekitike, who faces his former club, while Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both retained their places in the frontline. Florian Wirtz, Curtis Jones, Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson were also drafted back into the starting XI as the Dutchman looked to spark a response after four straight defeats.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of kick-off, Slot admitted it was far from an easy call to bench Salah, but said he wanted to reward players who impressed during the latter stages of the defeat at Anfield
“First answer is always yes — it was a difficult decision to make,” Slot conceded. “But that is also to do with Mo and all the players I have. Every time I select a team, it’s always difficult because I have so many good players.
That’s also the reason why I use these players. I liked the way we ended the game against United. Mainly the second half — we created a lot of chances.”
Slot’s decision was also influenced by the absence of Ryan Gravenberch, who missed the trip to Germany through injury. The Dutch midfielder has quietly become a key figure for Liverpool since joining from Bayern Munich last year.
Since Gravenberch’s debut in September 2023, Liverpool have won 69% of their matches when he has featured (66 wins from 96 games). That figure drops sharply to 58% (15 from 26) in matches when he hasn’t played underlining his growing influence in Slot’s midfield.
For Salah, this marks an unwanted first since his arrival on Merseyside in 2017. The 32-year-old has never previously been left out of the starting XI for two consecutive Champions League fixtures.
Salah’s exclusion inevitably raised eyebrows, with many supporters questioning whether Slot’s rotation policy has gone too far at a time when Liverpool desperately need a result to steady their campaign. But Slot has been consistent in his message since taking over: no player is guaranteed a place, and performances not reputation dictate selection.
The Dutchman’s emphasis on freshness and tactical flexibility has been a recurring theme during his early months in charge, though it has also brought scrutiny amid a run of inconsistent results.
With Frankfurt possessing pace and energy in transition, Slot’s lineup suggested a plan to exploit spaces in behind rather than relying solely on Salah’s cutting edge.
Still, the decision highlights the scale of Slot’s challenge managing elite players, rebuilding confidence, and balancing a demanding schedule, all while under the microscope.
Slot also elaborated on his reasoning for starting with both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in attack a decision that signalled a potential shift in Liverpool’s tactical setup.
“What we need to try today again is to create as many chances as we have in the last few weeks,” he said. “Because it is very helpful that we have two players in the team who can score a goal.”
The Dutchman suggested Liverpool would line up with two recognised strikers, supported by width and creativity from the flanks, as he looked to inject greater attacking threat into a side that has struggled for cutting edge in recent matches.
“We are hoping and expecting Jeremie Frimpong to create something for these two from the right side, and Cody Gakpo trying to do the same off the left — with Florian Wirtz’s creativity in and around our two number nines,” Slot explained.
Such comments hint at a more fluid attacking shape, potentially resembling a 4-2-2-2 or 3-4-1-2, with Frimpong and Gakpo tasked to provide service for the front two while Wirtz operated between the lines.
Slot acknowledged that accommodating both Isak and Ekitike would require some tweaks in midfield balance.
“That is looking at how they normally set up — the idea,” he said. “They can play together. They showed this against United, although it was in the second half. But it does mean that our midfield needs to be structured a little bit differently.
“Where we normally play with one six, now we need Curtis [Jones] and Dom [Szoboszlai] to be a bit more defensively minded than one of the two normally is.”
It’s a bold tactical adjustment from Slot, who appears intent on finding a formula that restores Liverpool’s fluidity and confidence in the final third.
The inclusion of Ekitike alongside Isak offers a different dynamic two physical, mobile forwards capable of linking play and pressing high while Wirtz’s inclusion adds technical quality between the lines.
With Frimpong and Gakpo providing width and pace, Slot’s setup seems designed to overwhelm Frankfurt’s back line and force turnovers in advanced areas, rather than relying solely on Salah’s individual brilliance.
Whether that gamble pays off will depend on Liverpool’s ability to maintain defensive discipline without their usual midfield anchor a risk Slot acknowledged but seemed willing to embrace.
