Mohamed Salah received a rapturous reception at Anfield as he returned from disciplinary exile to help Liverpool secure a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Saturday. While the Egyptian forward’s future remains the subject of intense speculation following his recent public outburst against the club hierarchy, it was Hugo Ekitike who secured the three points with a decisive brace.
The win extends the defending champions' unbeaten run to five games across all competitions, offering a moment of stability after a tumultuous week for manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool started with blistering pace, taking the lead after just 46 seconds; quickest goal of the Premier League season so far. Ekitike capitalized on defensive hesitation to latch onto a Joe Gomez header and volley past Bart Verbruggen. However, Gomez’s afternoon was cut short by injury in the 26th minute, forcing an early change.
This set the stage for Salah’s introduction, and despite his explosive comments last weekend accusing the club of "throwing him under the bus," the Anfield faithful greeted him with loud cheers as he replaced the defender.
Brighton threatened to equalize after the break, with Diego Gomez striking the post and forcing a save from Alisson, but Liverpool punished their profligacy in the 60th minute. Salah whipped in a precise corner kick that Ekitike met at the back post to head home his 10th goal of the season.
The assist marked a historic milestone for Salah, taking him to 277 goal involvements in 302 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goal involvements for a single club in the competition.
Manager Arne Slot, who held clear-the-air talks with the forward on Friday after dropping him for the midweek Champions League win against Inter Milan, addressed the situation following the match. "I have no reasons in not wanting him to stay," Slot stated, attempting to diffuse the tension.
The victory lifts Liverpool to sixth in the table, though the immediate concern for the Reds is navigating the upcoming schedule without their talisman. Salah now departs for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and could miss up to eight games if Egypt reaches the final.
With his contract winding down and his recent admission that "I don't know what is going to happen," fans are left wondering if this assist-making performance was Salah's final act in a Liverpool shirt.
