There’s a version of this debate where we all argue about the football side, whether Mohamed Salah should start every week, whether he’s looked a yard off it, whether Liverpool need something different in certain games. Fine. But the bigger issue, to me, is the bit that often gets ignored: how it’s handled behind the scenes.

Because dropping a senior player is one thing. Dropping him with no proper conversation, no explanation, no sense of “this is where we’re at and this is why”, is another. And if that’s genuinely how it went, it’s poor man-management, no matter how correct the on-pitch call might be.

The decision might be right, but the delivery matters

Managers have to make hard calls. That’s the job. Liverpool have always been ruthless when they’re at their best, picking teams on form, intensity, and what a match demands. Sometimes a big name sits. Sometimes it’s overdue, and everyone can see it coming.

But even when “everyone can see it”, the player might not. Footballers are wired differently. Confidence, routine, status, all of it matters. A player can be coasting a bit, leaning on past glory, and still genuinely believe they’re helping the team. That’s why the human side isn’t a nice extra, it’s part of the work.

A simple man-to-man chat can change the whole tone. Not a public statement. Not a message through a coach. Just a direct conversation: here’s what I’m seeing, here’s what I need, here’s what happens next. You can disagree, but you’re at least included.

Salah isn’t just any player

This isn’t about tip-toeing around egos. It’s about respect. Salah has been a massive part of what Liverpool have been for years. Whatever anyone thinks about his current level, he’s earned the right to be spoken to properly if there’s a major change in how he’s being used.

That doesn’t mean he picks himself. It doesn’t mean Arne has to compromise the team. It just means you treat a key figure like a key figure.

Will it blow over? Maybe. But maybe not

These things can settle down quickly if everyone feels the process is fair. But if the feeling is that there was no conversation and it was just “you’re out”, then it lingers. It becomes a mood, then a story, then a distraction. And Liverpool don’t need more noise around the squad when the only thing that should matter is the next performance.

Truth is, none of us know exactly who said what or when. But the principle stands: the best managers don’t just pick teams, they manage people. If Salah wasn’t spoken to, that’s the part that needs fixing first.

Written by Chrisymate: 6 January 2026

Tags: efl match-review