Mohamed Salah came off the bench to assist Hugo Ekitike’s second double as Liverpool returned to winning ways.
Mohamed Salah scored the goal Liverpool win 2-0 He returned against Brighton after an explosive outburst that left his future at the Premier League champions in doubt.
Egypt Forward, The A subject of intensive investigation As the game got under way at Anfield, in the 26th minute on Saturday, he replaced injured defender Joe Gomez to loud cheers from the substitutes’ bench.
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The home side, whose title defense collapsed after the shock result, led 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton wasted a number of chances to equalize and Ekitike scored again on the half-hour mark to give Liverpool space.
Salah accused Liverpool of dumping him.under the busHe was left on the bench in last week’s 3-3 draw at Leeds – the third game in a row he has been selected as a substitute.
He also said he was not related to manager Arne Slott.
Salah was left out of Inter Milan’s midweek Champions League trip, which Liverpool won 1-0Posting a picture of himself at the gym alone on social media.
Slott said at Friday’s pre-match news conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day, adding, “I have no reason why he shouldn’t stay.”
Salah didn’t have to wait long for a substitute role to delight the Liverpool faithful
There has been heavy speculation as to what role Salah will play in the build-up to Saturday’s match, with the winger named on the bench.
Liverpool, who had won just two of their 10 Premier League games before the Brighton game, began their title run and took the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez headed home Bart Verbruggen to set up Ekiti.
Salah entered the fray 20 minutes before half-time after Gomez withdrew.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez wasted a good chance to equalize early in the second half, hitting the ball off the outside of a post and Brajan Gruda also went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike nodded in a corner from Salah.
Salah himself went close in stoppage time after being set up by Federico Chiesa, but shone.
The win lifted Slott’s men to sixth in the table ahead of Saturday’s later kickoff, easing the pressure on the embattled manager.
Salah out of Liverpool for AFCON or for good?
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt progress in the tournament in Morocco, with the final on January 18.
Next, who’s gone linked to movement In the lucrative Saudi Pro League, his family was invited to a Brighton game amid speculation about 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 while 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 while on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool won their 20th English league title, but has scored just four league goals this season.