Liverpool faces Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday, with Regis Le Bris' side sitting above the Reds in the Premier League table after defying expectations at the start of the season

If the Egyptian is to be a less regular starter this season, Arne Slot faces a significant test of his man-management skills

Liverpool aren't the only side dealing with missing players, as Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris also gave an update on three squad members ahead of Wednesday evening's clash.

Mohamed Salah was left out of Liverpool's starting lineup to play West Ham on Sunday in a surprise move by coach Arne Slot. Club great Salah was Liverpool's leading scorer on the way to a record-equaling 20th English league title last season.

Liverpool made a significant outlay on players in the summer and the priority for next year will be their defence

The Dutch boss has been under immense pressure after overseeing nine defeats from Liverpool’s last 12 games, the club’s worst run of form in 72 years. Slot batted away suggestions that his job was under threat despite shifting the blame away from his players to take full responsibility for this ruinous sequence of results.

Liverpool entered their clash with West Ham on Sunday on the back of three successive defeats, all of which came by three-goal margins. The Reds were truly shambolic in defence, with Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate particularly sore spots throughout the campaign so far.

Mohamed Salah was left on the bench as Liverpool’s new boys looked to finally be clicking as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz helped the Reds to a vital three points in a 2-0 win over West Ham. The Swedish forward scored his first Premier League goal for the club since his big-money switch to Anfield this summer,

Liverpool were under the cosh against the 10-man Hammers, but Gakpo’s clinical finish in stoppage time ensured there was no late resurgence from the hosts, as the defending champions finally returned to winning ways to ease the pressure on their manager.