Arne Slot has opened up on his decision to bench Mohamed Salah for today's Premier League clahs between West Ham and Liverpool at the London Stadium.
Salah's form has nosedived spectacularly this term, with the 33-year-old scoring just four Premier League goals from 12 outings.
He was particularly poor in midweek as the Reds lost 4-1 to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on yet another difficult night at the office.
For today's match against West Ham, Slot has opted to take Salah out of his starting XI - with Florian Wirtz replacing him.
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It is a bold call from a manager who has seen his side implode this term, with Liverpool currently well off the pace having lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions.
But Slot says he's dropped Salah because he's ready to rotate.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “We have more players on the bench than just Mo but I understand why you ask the question.
Mohamed Salah has scored just four Premier League goals for Liverpool this season
| PA"We’re playing four games in 10 days. I have many good players, so today I chose this line-up.
"Sometimes [Alexander] Isak has been on the bench, sometimes Wirtz so I understand why it’s about the players on the bench but it’s also about those that start.
“It’s not an easy decision as I have many more than 11 good players – it’s not the first time I haven’t played Mo, just like I’ve decided not to play Isak, Wirtz and [Hugo] Etikite.”
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|PA
Liverpool have still gone strong for today's match, despite Salah missing out.
Alisson Becker starts in goal, in front of a back four consisting of Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai all start.
And Wirtz and Cody Gakpo will flank Alexander Isak in attack, with the Sweden international still awaiting lift-off following his blockbuster summer move from Newcastle.
Pressure has been mounting on Slot amid Liverpool's dire form this term.
Speaking before the match with West Ham, however, the Dutchman insisted he still had the backing of sporting director Richard Hughes - having spoken to him regularly throughout the course of the campaign.
Florian Wirtz starts for Liverpool in their crunch Premier League clash with West Ham
| PA"We had the same conversation since I've been here," he said.
"I'm not sure if I said last night, but we fight on try to improve. The conversations have been the same as for the past one and a half years."
Slot was then asked if he felt let down by his players and their bad form this term.
"No, not at all," he added. "Although I do agree with you that out standards have not been up to the standards that we're used to and we want.
"But last year when we did really well there was a focus on certain individuals, but I've always said it's about the group."
He also vowed to 'keep fighting, no matter how difficult it is' and said the club 'need to fight together'.