In a surprising decision, Liverpool’s coach Arne Slot has placed Mohamed Salah on the bench for the crucial Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. This change comes after Salah’s recent struggles, having not found the back of the net in his last five outings.
Slot has opted for a different approach, reinstating former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitike to the starting lineup as Salah’s replacement. Ekitike, who transferred to Liverpool this summer for £69 million, is set to face his former club with hopes of making a significant impact. Joining him in the attack is £125 million signing Alexander Isak, who has found scoring to be a challenge with just one goal in his last seven appearances since arriving from Newcastle.
The decision to modify the lineup is critical as Liverpool aims to snap a troubling streak of four straight defeats, a situation they have not encountered since September 1953. After a strong season last year, where Salah contributed significantly with 29 goals and 18 assists, his performance has dipped this season, netting just three goals in 11 matches across all competitions.
The starting XI for the match against Eintracht Frankfurt includes goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, who makes his return after being benched for previous Premier League losses to Chelsea and Manchester United. Salah remains on the bench alongside other substitutes, including Freddie Woodman and Alexis Mac Allister.
With high stakes in this Champions League clash, Liverpool supports the hope that new formations and combinations can rejuvenate their struggling squad as they look to reclaim their status among Europe’s elite.