Wirtz Shines as Salah Remains onโ Bench in Liverpool’s West Ham Victory
LONDON – Florian Wirtz’sโ performance for Bayer Leverkusen is fueling speculation about Liverpool’s โpreviousโ transfer pursuit,while Mohamed Salah’s omission from โคthe starting lineup in Liverpool’s 5-1 win against โWest Ham united on Sunday sparked โฃrenewed discussion about his role withinโข the team.
Wirtz, who Liverpool were previously linked with before he suffered a serious ACL injury, delivered a standout performance, reportedly โขjustifying the club’s decision to pursue other โคoptions in the interim. The article notes a cross โfrom Liverpool’s right-back ledโข to a Gakpo goal,with the right-back also claiming a direct assist. โ
Meanwhile, Salah was again named as a substitute by manager Arne Slot, 19 months after a similar โฃsituation at West Ham โprompted aโ crypticโข response from the Egyptian forward, where he stated “there will be fire” if he commented onโค being benched. Slot made the decision to bench four players following โthe team’s recent poor form.
Despite his absence from the pitch, the articleโค suggests Liverpoolโค may โbenefit from โexperiencing play without Salah ahead of his departure for the Africa Cupโฃ of Nations later this month, potentially returning revitalized.
The match also included โคa pre-game tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds,โค who recently passed away at the ageโ of 79, receiving applause from โฃall sections of the London Stadium.
