LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Mohamed Salah was left out of Liverpool's starting lineup by manager Arne Slot on Wednesday for the second straight Premier League match, in what could be a sign of the Egypt winger's fading status in his ninth season at the club.
Salah was named on the bench for the home game against Sunderland, only entering as a halftime substitute — and failing to score — in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
On Sunday, the Egypt winger was an unused substitute in Liverpool's 2-0 win at West Ham. That marked the first time Salah hadn't started a league game under Slot, who took charge in the offseason of 2024 and won the title in his first season — chiefly thanks to Salah's league-high 29 goals.
Slot acknowledged Salah was unhappy at being dropped last weekend but that he “handled himself really well” and was a "top professional.”
That wasn't enough to regain his place in the team three days later, with Slot sticking with Dominic Szoboszlai on the right wing — seemingly because of his work off the ball.
“In the first half, we played Szoboszlai on the right to be defensively strong enough not to concede as much as we did in the last few weeks,” Slot said.
Liverpool has three matches — two in the Premier League and one in the Champions League — before Salah heads to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Slot refused to say whether Salah would come into the team for Liverpool's next match — at Leeds on Saturday.
“I have not given a thought to how we will play at the weekend against Leeds,” he said. "I have an idea who will start but I won’t say.”
Salah has scored four goals in the Premier League this season.
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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, and Dominik Szoboszlai warm up before the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and PSV in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and PSV in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs handed Minnesota its worst postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday night to even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
“I just told them we got punked,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
Stephon Castle had 21 points and De'Aaron Fox added 16 points for San Antonio, which shot 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. It was the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.
Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points for Minnesota.
Edwards came off the bench again as Minnesota continued to restrict his minutes in his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.
Games 3 and 4 are Friday and Sunday in Minneapolis.
With Wembanyama playing more aggressively on offense from the outset, the Spurs put the series-opening loss behind them quickly.
Minnesota's previous largest postseason defeat was by 30 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003.
Only the margin of victory was in doubt Monday as both teams sent their starters to the bench with 10 minutes remaining and the Spurs leading 104-66.
“I told the guys after the first game it’s the natural tendency for the team that steals the first game, the away team, to get blown out in Game 2," Edwards said. “We can’t come out cool and we came out cool and what happened — we got blown out.”
After combining to score 21 points on 10-for-31 shooting in Game 1, Wembanyama and Fox combined to go 12 of 25 from the field Wednesday.
The All-Star duo scored the Spurs' first 11 points as they raced to a 29-point lead in the first half.
“Just trying to set the tone,” Wembanyama said.
Fox finished 2 for 2 on 3-pointers after missing on four attempts in Game 1.
“We’re at our best when (Fox is) in attack mode,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnnson said. “He has probably the strongest ripple effect on our team in terms of when he’s in attack mode pushing the pace, because you have Steph (Castle) and Dylan (Harper) that follow suit with that. And then our shooters get shot in transition. Victor plays in space and so on and so forth.”
The Spurs missed their first three shots, but Wembanyama followed the third attempt by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring.
Minnesota was held to 35 points in the first half. The Timberwolves shot 29.8% from the field before halftime and were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers as they fell behind by 25 points.
“I loved how everyone had everybody’s back (defensively),” Wembanyama said. “Tonight looked like a system that worked.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) is blocked by fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) and guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
