Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Arne Slot’s team unbeaten and with two wins in four games
On any other day, Hugo Ekitike would grab the headlines after scoring a brace to send Liverpool past Brighton to make it four league games unbeaten for the champions. But not when Mohamed Salah was back in a Liverpool shirt after a week of media frenzy that followed his outburst against Arne Slot and the club.
Slot confirmed he spoke with the winger on Friday, and then restored him to the squad after leaving him out for the trip to Milan on Tuesday. At full-time, after Ekitike’s brace had helped Liverpool triumph over Brighton, Salah remained on the pitch and applauded all four sides of Anfield before standing in front of the Kop, eyes glistening as his name rang out.
It was reminiscent of his moment in front of the Kop after scoring a late goal to help Liverpool beat Bournemouth on the opening day of the season. Salah made it clear, even when he gave that interview last week, that he would be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans before heading out for Afcon, whether he played or not.
Now it’s all up in the air, although of course his return to the side suggests that talks were positive, and perhaps the club, the manager, the squad, and their best player are working their way back together. The result also adds further positivity. Perhaps Liverpool are healing.
Ekitike scored within just 46 seconds to give Arne Slot’s side early control. It was the fastest goal in the Premier League so far this season. Salah naturally started on the bench but was thrust into action earlier than expected when Joe Gomez was forced off injured after 26 minutes. The crowd cheered him when he came on.
Fittingly, Salah assisted Ekitike’s second. After the Frenchman had combined with Joe Gomez to punish Brighton’s mistake and put Liverpool ahead in the first half with less than a minute played, in the second half Salah won a corner and then delivered for Ekitike to head in at the back post.
Brighton had plenty of nice moments in both halves. They had chances to equalise in the first half and Diego Gomez, Brajan Gruda and Kaoru Mitoma all went close in the second half, but this was always Liverpool’s story.
