[Getty Images]BBCMon, December 1, 2025 at 11:31 AM UTC·1 min readFormer Premier League midfielder Don Hutchison says Mohamed Salah's legs "haven't gone" despite a difficult start to the season.
Salah ended a run of 53 consecutive Premier League starts as he stayed an unused substitute in Liverpool's much-needed win over West Ham on Sunday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIronically, it was the first game he had been a substitute for since the 2-2 draw at London Stadium in April 2024.
Hutchison said the changes boss Arne Slot made on the right-hand side where Salah usually operates helped ensure Liverpool were more solid defensively.
"Without being flashy, Joe Gomez just came in and played his role as a defender and right-back," Hutchison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He just defended well. Nothing flashy on the ball.
"Florian Wirtz had his best game by a million miles. He just looked assured, had more space, the pictures that he sees, the balls around the corner, the weight of pass.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"When Salah goes to Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] a position will open up there, whether it's for Jeremy Frimpong or Federico Chiesa. The rumours about Antoine Semenyo will not go away because he might be the future.
"It's an uncomfortable conversation to have because Salah and Virgil van Dijk can't go on forever.
"That's the uncomfortable truth. But, I think Salah will play in midweek against Sunderland. He had made 53 consecutive starts before this, so maybe Arne Slot just thought he looked a little bit jaded.
"Salah's legs haven't gone - he's just going through a bad period."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
[BBC]
