Shocking bench decision in a high-stakes night: is Salah beginning a rift with Liverpool?

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah stunned Liverpool fans by being left on the bench for the Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, a decision that ignited debate about his role at the club.

Slot, the Dutch coach, preferred Salah to start on the bench for a third consecutive European game, matching a stretch Salah hasn’t endured since 2017 when he first broke through in Liverpool’s lineup.

Salah had started two straight matches as a substitute in Europe, including the defeat at Galatasaray, a result that left the Reds with work to do early in the group stage.

The decision came after Salah failed to score in seven consecutive Premier League appearances, a drought not seen since he joined Liverpool.

Liverpool still cruised to a 5-1 win over Frankfurt, with Salah appearing as a second half substitute for Hugo Ekitike and the scoreline remaining unchanged.

The win came after four consecutive losses across competitions, a skid that had seen the Reds topple to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Man United in the league, and Galatasaray in Europe.

Liverpool avoided a fifth defeat in all competitions for the first time since 1953.

Salah's reaction

In the early hours of Wednesday, Salah removed his Liverpool profile from his X account after the surprise omission.

He also posted a photo of his summer holiday with his daughters, a rare move for Salah who normally keeps his social media presence steady.

Followers and English media viewed the gesture as a sign of frustration with Slot's decision and a fresh tangle between Salah and his manager.

The episode recalled earlier contract talks when Salah sent coded messages through the press and via his Colombian agent Ramy Abbas.

What Slot said about excluding Salah

Ahead of the Frankfurt match, Slot explained his reason for omitting Salah, saying selecting a team is always hard given the quality of players at his disposal.

He added he was pleased with how they finished against Manchester United in the previous clash, especially in the second half when chances were created.

Slot noted that with Ryan absent, Liverpool needed to reshape their midfield defensively and offensively, and that Frankfurt's usual style guided the plan.

As always, there are players who start and players who can influence games from the bench, and this was true again on the night.

What Salah has done this season

The numbers show Salah's form has dipped compared with his peak years at Liverpool.

Last season he finished with 29 goals in the league; thus far this season he has only two in eight games.

His opening goal came against Bournemouth in the first round, a 4-2 win, while the second arrived against Burnley from a penalty as Liverpool edged a 1-0 victory.

He has also set up two for teammates, the first against Newcastle United and the second in the Everton derby.

In Europe, he scored once and assisted once in the opening round against Atletico Madrid, but in the second and third matches against Galatasaray and Frankfurt he did not contribute offensively, coming on as a substitute each time.

After a tough night in Europe and a big win for Liverpool, all eyes shift to the weekend clash with Brentford, the ninth game of the league season.

Analysts and some English legends have started to call for Salah to remain on the bench if the team keeps winning without him, and fans are left pondering his future role.

Liverpool sit fourth with 15 points after eight games, having opened with five wins before slumping in three straight matches, and trailing Arsenal by four points.

With early November around the corner, Liverpool face Aston Villa next, aiming to steady their momentum.

The question now is whether Salah will keep being rotated, or whether Slot will hand him a run of starts as the team presses for a title challenge.

In the standings, Liverpool occupy fourth with a 15 point return after eight matches, four points behind leaders Arsenal.

Bottom line, Salah's benching adds a new layer to a season that still promises drama at Anfield.

Punchline 1: If Salah’s goal in life is to keep everyone guessing, he’s already scored.

Punchline 2: In football as in humor, sometimes you bench the star to let the others shine, though in Salah's case even the bench light is bright.