{"id":617539,"date":"2025-12-07T08:17:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T08:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/617539\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T08:17:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T08:17:02","slug":"slot-explains-not-using-salah-vs-leeds-didnt-need-a-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/617539\/","title":{"rendered":"Slot Explains Not Using Salah vs Leeds: “Didn’t Need A Goal”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mohamed Salah<\/a> was left as an unused substitute for the second time in three matches against Leeds<\/a>, with Arne Slot<\/a> left to explain why after another disappointing result.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Salah\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

However, like at West Ham<\/a>, he was not turned to at any stage over the 100 minutes of action, with Slot instead introducing Joe Gomez<\/a>, Alexis Mac Allister<\/a>, Wataru Endo<\/a> and Alexander Isak<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The latter two saw Liverpool become defensive and invite pressure, with Isak the only outlet. It meant Salah watched another collapse from the bench.<\/p>\n

The reason Salah was not subbed on vs. Leeds<\/p>\n

\"LEEDS,<\/p>\n

Explaining his decision to overlook the 33-year-old by Sky Sports, Slot said: \u201cWe were 2-0 up, [then] we were 3-2 up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was at that moment of time, more about controlling the game. And we didn\u2019t need a goal at that moment of time. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd normally when you need a goal, like against Sunderland<\/a>, I brought Mo in. Today, it felt to me that we needed different players like Wata [Endo]. <\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

“The only ones to blame are us” <\/p>\n

Arne Slot speaks after Liverpool’s draw with Leeds ?? pic.twitter.com\/WtGBtd5HdG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said before the game, we have to accept the situation we are in, and I make my choices based on that,\u201d Liverpool\u2019s head coach said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the short-term future of Mo is that he goes in a week\u2019s time to the African Cup of Nations, but before that, we play Inter and Brighton<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Wirtz and Bradley were subbed off<\/p>\n

\"LEEDS,<\/p>\n

As for the earlier changes which saw Florian Wirtz<\/a> and Conor Bradley<\/a> replaced by Mac Allister and Gomez respectively, Slot explained it was down to their fitness management.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took off Florian and the other one was Conor. That\u2019s both related to the amount of games they\u2019ve played coming back from an injury,\u201d Slot said.<\/p>\n

\u201cConor has been out for a long, long, long time, and he had repetitive injuries in his hamstring. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t think it was about the ones I brought in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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