Mohamed Salah came off the bench to assist Hugo Ekitike’s second double and Liverpool returned to winning ways.
The Egyptian forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes bench to huge cheers to replace injured defender Joe Gomez in the 26th minute on Saturday.
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The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after shocking results, was leading 1–0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitikey on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton missed several chances to equalize and Ekitike gave Liverpool a reprieve by scoring again with half an hour remaining.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was left on the bench during last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds – the third consecutive match in which he was named as a replacement.
He also said that he has no relationship with manager Arne Slott.
Salah was ruled out of Inter Milan’s trip to Inter Milan midway through the Champions League, which Liverpool won 1–0, after posting a photo of himself alone in the gym on social media.
Slot said in Friday’s pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding, “I have no reason why I don’t want him to stay.”
Salah didn’t have to wait long for a substitute role to please the Liverpool faithful
In the build-up to Saturday’s match there was intense speculation about what role Salah would play, with the winger also being named on the bench.
Liverpool, who had won only two of 10 Premier League matches before the Brighton game, started brightly, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Akitike, who passed the ball to Bart Verbruggen.
Salah entered the field after Gomez was substituted about 20 minutes before half-time.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez missed a good chance to equalize by hitting the ball wide of the post early in the second half and Brajan Gruda also came close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Akitike scored his second goal after heading in Salah’s corner.
Salah went close himself in stoppage time after being set up by Federico Chiesa, but shone.
The win lifted the Slot men to sixth in the table ahead of the latter’s kick-off on Saturday, easing the pressure on the embattled manager.
Salah’s departure from Liverpool for AFCON or forever?
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt goes in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation intensified over his future.
“I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup,” he told reporters last week. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m there.”
Salah, who is third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown during his tenure on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season and led Liverpool to their 20th English league title, but has managed only four league goals this season.
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