Mohamed Salah was left as an unused substitute for the second time in three matches against Leeds, with Arne Slot left to explain why after another disappointing result.
Salah’s place on the bench at Elland Road was met with bemusement pre-match, but any Liverpool fan would expect the Egyptian to be introduced at some stage throughout the match.
However, like at West Ham, he was not turned to at any stage over the 100 minutes of action, with Slot instead introducing Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak.
The latter two saw Liverpool become defensive and invite pressure, with Isak the only outlet. It meant Salah watched another collapse from the bench.
The reason Salah was not subbed on vs. Leeds
Explaining his decision to overlook the 33-year-old by Sky Sports, Slot said: “We were 2-0 up, [then] we were 3-2 up.
“I think it was at that moment of time, more about controlling the game. And we didn’t need a goal at that moment of time.
“And normally when you need a goal, like against Sunderland, I brought Mo in. Today, it felt to me that we needed different players like Wata [Endo].
“I brought him (Endo) in many times when we needed to bring a win over the line. And he gave everything, I think, what I could expect from him, and he was also not part in us conceding for 3-3.”
“The only ones to blame are us”
Arne Slot speaks after Liverpool’s draw with Leeds ?? pic.twitter.com/WtGBtd5HdG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 6, 2025
With Salah overlooked and only two games left before he heads off for the Africa Cup of Nations, Slot was then asked what happens in the short and medium term.
“Like I said before the game, we have to accept the situation we are in, and I make my choices based on that,” Liverpool’s head coach said.
“And the short-term future of Mo is that he goes in a week’s time to the African Cup of Nations, but before that, we play Inter and Brighton.”
Why Wirtz and Bradley were subbed off
As for the earlier changes which saw Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley replaced by Mac Allister and Gomez respectively, Slot explained it was down to their fitness management.
“I took off Florian and the other one was Conor. That’s both related to the amount of games they’ve played coming back from an injury,” Slot said.
“Conor has been out for a long, long, long time, and he had repetitive injuries in his hamstring.
“We all knew before this game, he could play 60 so I pushed it towards 66/67 [minutes], I think. Flo has played so many minutes, and we have to keep him fit.
“But I don’t think it was about the ones I brought in.”