Slot on Salah as sub: It's always difficult to decide who to start

In Liverpool's Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Mohamed Salah came on as a substitute in the 74th minute of the second half, featuring for just 16 minutes. Speaking to TNT Sports, Liverpool manager Arne Slot explained his decision to keep Salah on the bench.

"The answer is always yes, it's true that it's a difficult decision, but it has to do with Salah, and all the players under me. It's always difficult whenever you pick your starting line-up because there are so many good players in the squad. That's why I will rotate these players."

"I'm happy with the way we played in the second half of the game against Manchester United, especially in the second half when the team created a lot of chances. However, with Gravenberch unavailable, we needed to make some adjustments in midfield - both on the defensive and attacking end. Combined with Frankfurt's usual customary style of play, we finally decided to open the game with this line-up."

"But as usual, I both started some of the players and kept some players who can change the game when they come on as substitutes, which was the case today."

Slot further explained the reasons for starting both Isak and Ekitike and hinted at a possible change in the team's formation.

"We need to try again to create as many attacking chances as we have done in the last few weeks. Having these two players in the team with goal-scoring ability will be very helpful for us."

"We hope and expect Frimpong to create chances for these two strikers on the right and Gakpo to do the same from the left. In addition, Wiltz will be able to use his creativity around our two forwards."

"This arrangement is based on the opponent's usual set-up. Isak and Ekitike can form a good partnership with each other, as they showed against Manchester United, although that was only in the second half. But this arrangement does mean that we need to make some different adjustments to our midfield than we have done in the past."

"In the past we usually put in a defensive midfielder, but now we need Curtis and Szoboszlai to take more responsibility at the defensive end. In the past only one of the two of them was usually required to do that.