Liverpool take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday night, looking to finally find some form, but will go into the game without Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak
16:16, 06 Dec 2025Updated 16:32, 06 Dec 2025
Mohamed Salah remains on the bench for Liverpool as they take on Leeds(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah was named on the Liverpool bench for the third straight game with Arne Slot also starting Alexander Isak from the bench. The Reds faced off again Leeds United at Elland Road as they looked to make it three unbeaten and try to find some form of consistent results.
Slot made headlines at the end of last week, when he dropped Salah to the bench for the first time in the Premier League this season. That decision came after a desperate run of form to start the season, with the Egyptian remaining on the bench throughout the match.
Liverpool won that one 2-0, with the Dutch boss sticking to his guns and leaving out Salah again in midweek vs Sunderland. He did come off the bench during the 1-1 draw, but failed to make an impact.
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Slot was asked about Salah in Friday’s press conference, insisting he was strongly considering bringing him back into the starting XI. “I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us. He always in my mind to either start or to come [off the bench].
“The chatter, yes [I understand it] because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years. It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t [playing].”
But he was again amongst the substitutes, where he was joined by record signing Isak. The Swede, who has failed to hit the ground running since his £125million fee, started against the Black Cats in midweek, but is replaced by Hugo Ekitike.
Alexander Isak has scored just one Premier League goal this season(Image: Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Conor Bradley returned to the XI to replace Joe Gomez, while Curtis Jones got the nod over Alexis Mac Allister.
Federico Chiesa was another consigned to the Liverpool substitute bench, despite growing clamour for him to be given extra opportunities.
“Every player has a possibility to start but we have many options to start in his position,” Slot explained. “He has had an impact coming off the bench a few times.”
Liverpool XI vs Leeds: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
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