Liverpool manager Arne Slott has described forward Mohamed Salah as a “top professional” over his reaction to being sacked.
Slott left Salah on the bench for Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham United after losing nine of 12 games in all competitions.
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This is the first time Slott has been eliminated from the league since April 2024 under his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Egypt international Salah, who won the Golden Boot with 29 goals last season, has only scored 4 goals this season.
Slott said it was a “reasonable assumption” that Salah would be unhappy with being an unused substitute at the London Stadium.
“It’s a normal reaction from a player who is good enough to play for us, and I say that mildly because he has performed well for this club over the years and will continue to do so in the future,” Slaughter said.
“He’s not the only one who’s unhappy that he’s not starting, that’s normal.”
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Slaughter said that despite the disappointment, Salah “handled it very well”.
“He’s very disciplined — he knows how to stay healthy,” Slaughter said.
“Whether he plays well or doesn’t play well, whether he plays or doesn’t play, he will always be a top pro and that’s what he’s been like the past two days.
“For all players around the world, at some stage in the club they are human beings. He scored a lot of goals for us and I’m sure he will do the same in the future.”
Slott also confirmed that Salah will be absent from Liverpool from December 15, when he will travel with the Egyptian team to participate in the African Cup of Nations.
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“We have to find a way to play without him because he won’t be here,” Slaughter said.
Defending champions Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal.
They host sixth-placed Sunderland on Wednesday before traveling to relegation-placed Leeds United on Saturday.
