Arne Slot’s decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench again against Sunderland raised a few eyebrows among Liverpool fans.
Salah has been struggling for form this season and was left out of the starting XI during the win over West Ham.
Even with that, there was an expectation he would be back in the line-up for Sunderland. But after how things went at the weekend, Slot decided to stick with his changes.
This time though, it did not quite pay off. Salah came on at half-time with Liverpool trailing and needing a lift, but he was not able to spark much of a response.
It now leaves questions over whether he will start against Leeds on Saturday. When asked about Salah’s role moving forward, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge suggested another approach for Slot to consider.
Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak are likely to be key players under Slot
Salah no longer seems to be central to Liverpool’s plans, with the club already preparing for a future beyond him. The decision has proven wise, given his performances this season.
Even though Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz are expected to lead Liverpool’s attack going forward, Slot has been slow to field all three together.
But Sturridge believes it is time for that change, especially with how sluggish the Reds have looked in recent matches. He told Sky Sports:
“I’m not the manager, I can’t decide what I believe he will do, but I’m saying if you’re going to change the formation and play slightly different then I would go all the way with it.
“Say ‘okay, let’s have a look at Ekitike and Isak up top and see whether that’s the answer’. If you’re going to leave Salah out again then I would try something different, have Wirtz in a number 10 behind them and see if that can open a few doors,” said the 39-year-old.
Why Arne Slot should take Daniel Sturridge’s advice
Alongside Salah, Cody Gakpo has struggled for form this season, and both players look in need of a break from the starting line-up.
That should open the door for Ekitike and Isak to pair up front, with Wirtz playing just behind them in a diamond formation.
The team could shift into a 4-4-2 diamond shape, which would also allow Slot to keep his preferred midfield trio intact.
The full-backs would be asked to cover more ground in this setup, but Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley are both capable of handling that responsibility. Reports suggest Bradley could be available for Leeds, and if he is, he should start.
There will be calls for Salah to return, but after significant investment over the summer, now is the time for Slot to focus on building towards Liverpool’s future. Backing Sturridge’s suggestion might be the best step forward.
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