The warning signs were there for Mohamed Salah.
His form wasn't very good. Experts began to climb on his back. The matches came thick and fast for Liverpool. In addition, coach Arne Slott clearly needed to change something amid the team's worst results in more than 70 years.
So Salah was dropped.
In fact, he didn't even come off the bench in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham.
A signal of hysteria and perhaps some overreaction.
Questions about whether this was the beginning of the end for Salah at Liverpool may be premature.
The trip to West Ham came in the middle of a run of five matches in 15 days for Liverpool. Missing a game in the center – against one of the worst teams in the league – was hardly a big deal, even though Salah was coming off the bench in a Premier League match for the first time in 19 months.
“Mo has had an incredible career here at this club and he has a very good future at this club because he is such a special player,” Slote said.
“Four games in 10 days where we only have 14-15 outfield players, then you have to make decisions every now and then about putting a certain lineup together and you're trying to pick the best lineup for each individual game.”
Expect Salah to return to the team when Liverpool host Sunderland on Wednesday in a rare round of midweek fixtures in England's top flight.
However, it does put some pressure on the 33-year-old Egyptian to start his scoring run given he has just four league goals to his name so far.
And very soon he will go to the African Cup of Nations. This could be something of a test for Slot: if, in Salah's absence, Liverpool stumble upon a formula that improves results, what will the Dutch coach do?
There is no doubt that Liverpool are already looking to the future with the signings of Florian Wirtz (22), Hugo Ekitike (23) and Alexander Isak (26). And in Isak, who scored the opening goal against West Ham, Slott now has a top striker who should ultimately ease Salah's burden.
But Salah is a club great with superb fitness and drive, and he led Liverpool's charge to the title last season.
Don't be surprised if he is Liverpool's first-choice striker again as Liverpool emerge from this difficult period, having lost eight of their previous 11 matches before the West Ham game.
“He’s very important to this club,” Slote said, “and will be important to this club in the future.”
Key midweek matches
Arsenal have drawn back-to-back away league draws but still hold a five-point lead heading into their home game against Brentford.
Second-placed Manchester City visit Fulham while Chelsea, one point behind, are at Leeds.
Players to watch
Victor Giokeres returned to Arsenal after a four-week absence for the 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday and will be keen to start. However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta now has plenty of options in attack, with Mikel Merino effectively filling in during Ghiokeres' recent absence and Gabriel Jesus also back in form after almost a year out with cruciate ligament damage.
Erling Haaland had failed to score in any of his last three games before Manchester City's trip to Fulham and suddenly he had an unlikely contender for the Golden Boot award.
This is Igor Thiago, Brentford's Brazilian striker, who has scored nine goals in his last eight league games and is on 11 goals for the season, three behind Haaland.
Out of order
Chelsea will be without midfielder Moises Caicedo against Leeds as he begins his suspension following a straight red card against Arsenal. With Romeo Lavia also currently sidelined, Reece James may have to continue to play an unfamiliar role in central midfield.
Crystal Palace midfielder Ismaila Sarr was injured early in the 2-1 win over Manchester United and coach Oliver Glasner said the Senegal international could only return after the African Cup. Crystal Palace will face Burnley on Wednesday.
Outside the field
Pressure is mounting on Tottenham manager Thomas Frank after three straight defeats in the last week, including a big derby against Arsenal and most recently at home to Fulham. Discontent was heard among fans, some of whom were attacked by Frank after the Fulham game for mocking goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for some mistakes.
“They can't be real Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you're on the pitch,” Frank said.
It doesn't get any easier for Spurs with a long trip to Newcastle ahead for Tuesday's game. Tottenham have already lost at St James' Park in the Carabao Cup this season and have suffered 4-0 and 6-1 defeats in two of their last three league meetings.
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