Salah Shines, Questions Linger as Liverpool Beat Brighton Before AFCON Goodbye
Saturday night at Anfield felt like one of those moments that carried a little extra emotion, even if the scoreboard simply read Liverpool 2, Brighton 0. The win itself was important, but much of the focus drifted toward Mohamed Salah, who stepped back onto the pitch amid uncertainty, applause, and unanswered questions, just days before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
At full-time, Salah took his time. He walked around the stadium, applauded all four sides of Anfield, and soaked in the chants from supporters who once again sang his name. By the time he disappeared down the tunnel, he was the last Liverpool player still on the pitch. It looked like a farewell, but only a temporary one. For now, at least, it has been framed as goodbye rather than goodbye forever.
Liverpool had already taken control of the game thanks to Hugo Ekitike, who struck early and then doubled the lead in the second half. Yet the moment Joe Gomez was forced off injured after 26 minutes, attention turned to the bench. Arne Slot didn’t hesitate. Salah was sent on, and the reaction from the crowd was telling. There were no boos, no tension, just appreciation.
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This appearance came only a week after Salah’s explosive comments following the Leeds match, where he suggested he had been “thrown under the bus” and hinted that the Brighton game could be his last for the club. He had been left out of the squad for the Champions League win in Milan, a decision that underlined the seriousness of the situation. Still, behind the scenes, it has been suggested that talks between player and manager were positive, even if nothing definitive has been resolved.
On the pitch, Salah looked sharp. He didn’t score, but his influence was clear. It was his corner that led to Ekitike’s second goal, an assist that carried historic weight. That contribution took Salah to 277 Premier League goal involvements for Liverpool, the most any player has ever recorded for a single club in the competition. It was another reminder of just how much he has given to this team.
After the game, Slot was calm and firm. It was made clear that, from his perspective, there is no ongoing issue. Salah was treated like any other player, selected when needed, and trusted in a key moment. Actions, rather than words, were allowed to do the talking.
Now, Salah will join Egypt as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations, potentially missing several Liverpool matches if his country go deep into the tournament. When he returns, conversations are expected to continue. Liverpool have shown they can cope without him in recent weeks, remaining unbeaten, but a fully focused and firing Salah remains a huge asset.
As the lights dimmed at Anfield, one thing was certain. The story isn’t over. It has merely paused, with the next chapter waiting to be written when Salah comes back from Africa.
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