How Slot fits Salah into his long-term Liverpool plans

The off-key Egypt star was benched in the Premier League for the first time since April 2024 for Sunday's win at West Ham. Was it a sign of things to come wonders Richard Jolly

- Richard Jolly

After one of the more demoralising weeks of his eight years at Anfield, the good news for Mohamed Salah is that Arne Slot has not found his successor. The man who displaced Salah from his usual berth on Liverpool's right flank at West Ham was a short-term solution, not the face of a new formula.

That may be what Dominik Szoboszlai wanted to hear, too, after he was pressed into service in his fourth different role of the season on Sunday. Salah, Slot admitted, was unhappy at being omitted. But a return to the team now would only be temporary, with the Africa Cup of Nations starting soon.

If Szoboszlai could be a Salah stand-in - for different reasons - then, Slot said: "I don't see Dominik as a right-winger for the long-term future in this club. Dominik is a midfielder who could help us out as a fullback or as a winger if needed. I don't expect to be in February and March and every single game Dominik is playing there.

"He's more of a midfielder than a winger, but the good thing about him is he can help me and us out in several positions if I need him in that position." Sunday's decision owed something to Szoboszlai's work rate. Salah's reluctance to track back has not escaped unnoticed and some opponents have capitalised.