Mohamed Salah marked his return to Liverpool action by setting up a goal in a 2-0 win over Brighton at Anfield on Saturday, easing tensions after a week of controversy surrounding his future at the club.
The Egyptian forward came off the bench in the 26th minute to a loud cheer from home fans after replacing injured defender Joe Gomez. His return followed public criticism of the club and manager Arne Slot, which had raised questions about his role at Liverpool.
Liverpool had taken an early lead just 46 seconds into the match, with French striker Hugo Ekitike scoring after a quick attack. Brighton created several chances to equalise but failed to convert.
Salah made his impact felt in the 60th minute, delivering a well-placed corner that Ekitike headed in to score his second goal of the game and seal the win.
The assist took Salah’s Premier League tally with Liverpool to 277 goal contributions — 188 goals and 89 assists — setting a new record for a single club and surpassing Wayne Rooney’s achievement at Manchester United.
Ekitike praised Salah after the match, calling him a role model and a club legend, and said playing alongside him was a privilege.
The match marked a dramatic turnaround after Salah’s explosive comments last week, when he said he felt “thrown under the bus” after being benched for three consecutive matches. He also revealed a strained relationship with manager Arne Slot and was left out of a midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Before the Brighton game, Slot confirmed he had spoken with Salah, calming speculation about his future and role in the team.
Salah nearly added a goal of his own late in the match but fired over the bar. He was warmly applauded by fans and teammates at the final whistle.
The victory was Liverpool’s first home win since November 4 and lifted the team to sixth place in the Premier League, reducing pressure on the coach after a difficult run of results.
Salah is now set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he will represent Egypt. His return date will depend on how far the team progresses in the tournament, which ends on January 18.
Despite speculation linking him to a move to Saudi Arabia, Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool. The 33-year-old remains the club’s third-highest all-time scorer and one of its most influential players.
