Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Hugo Ekitike scored twice, but it was the returning Mo Salah who received praise from the Kop after a tumultuous week on Merseyside.
They gave the outstanding Hugo Ekitike some well-deserved effusive praise, but quickly turned their attention to his substitute, who has been out of action for some time.
He only took a standard corner and the rest was done by the Brighton defense and Ekitike’s head, but Mohamed Salah was still impressed and pointed triumphantly at the Kop.
And the Kop’s response was a noisy reminder that, contrary to the opinion of many pundits, former players and those on the phone, Salah has lost none of the respect among Liverpool fans attending the game.
If those fans believe that Salah has undermined the club, the manager and even his team-mates, then they have done a hell of a job of pretending otherwise.
read more: Mohamed Salah breaks Wayne Rooney’s record on return to Liverpool after angry rantread more: Premier League explains controversial red card decision in Liverpool vs. Brighton
Anyone who watched this victory at Anfield would think that Salah is still idolized, and no one would think that Liverpool fans would demonize one of the greatest players of all time with a reckless post-match interview.
One would think these supporters would be scoffing at the idea that Salah had tarnished his legacy.
They are not taking sides in what many perceive to be a battle between managers and players. It’s just that they realize that with Salah, Liverpool are a more dangerous and attacking team.
Of course, the story should be about Ekitike and two great finishes, but both are countered by some degree of poor defensive work. It’s supposed to be about how the young Frenchman settles the best of Liverpool’s summer signings.
It should be about how he quickly built trust with fans and developed an exciting all-round game. But as soon as he was brought on just after midway through the first half, this was all about Salah.
And the idea that local believers voiced their opposition to Salah’s barbed words was soon proven to be demonstrably false.
The applause midway through the first half was not for the unfortunate Joe Gomez, who stumbled off injured shortly after assisting the header, but for the Egyptian emerging from a brief exile.
But it would be naive to suggest that this is the end of the story, even if Salah and Arne Slott seem to have cleared a rather toxic atmosphere and he had a nice long run out here.
Salah is currently on his way to the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, but he has suggested he is unsure what will happen across the club in the meantime.
The bottom line is that Salah has not started in Liverpool’s last five games and has been fit in all of them. And remember, Liverpool could have won this game without him.
When Slott goes through this game again, he might also worry that his team gave a very wasteful Brighton side a very good chance.
What is certain is that Salah’s almost legendary aversion to defensive work continues. But, simply put, that’s not what he’s there for. He’s there to encourage and finish attacks, and he did that in an almost fairytale fashion in stoppage time.
Instead, he lay irritably in his seat on the Anfield grass until the warmth of the crowd revived him. After the final whistle, all the Liverpool players appeared to give Salah a special hug and dutifully left the field before him.
And Salah had no shyness, no desire to make things a big deal. He completed a glorious lap and was the last to leave the pitch, with the Kop singing Salah’s song with a big smile on his face.
For a moment, I felt like crying. It’s funny how things work out. He was out for a while now, so he probably stayed for a few minutes. But judging by their mutual admiration, this was not a farewell… but a farewell.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£43
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
