Salah scored in Liverpool’s comeback

Mohamed Salah scored a goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst that cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.
The Egyptian forward, heavily scrutinized in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.
The hosts, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France striker Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.
Brighton missed several chances to equalize and Ekitike scored his second goal with half an hour remaining, heading home Salah’s corner.
The Egyptian superstar now has 277 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League — 188 goals and 89 assists — a new record by a player for one team in the competition, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s mark for Manchester United.
“Mohammed is a great, great professional,” Ekitike told the BBC. “I look at him as an example. You can see how involved he is in goals and assists.
“He’s a legend here. Sharing the field is a blessing. That’s the type of player that makes us watch football.”
Saturday marked a dramatic change in mood for Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after he was benched for the 3-3 draw at Leeds — the third successive match between the substitutes.
The 33-year-old winger also said he had nothing to do with manager Arne Slott in his extraordinary outburst and was left out of the midweek Champions League trip to Inter, which Liverpool won 1-0.
Slott said in his pre-match press conference that he would hold talks with Salah and there has been feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday’s game about what role the Egyptian will play.
Liverpool made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who slotted the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton’s Diego Gomez missed a good chance and Brian Gruda went close as the home crowd chanted Salah’s name.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike headed in Salah’s corner.
The Egyptian himself went close in stoppage time after being set up by Federico Chiesa, but broke away.
He was embraced by his teammates at the final whistle and applauded by the fans.
The win — Liverpool’s first at Anfield since November 4 — moves Slott’s men up to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered manager.

Departure Salah
Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt progress in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.
The forward, who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, had invited his family to the Brighton match as speculation swirled about his future.
“I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup of Nations,” he told reporters last week. “I don’t know what will happen when I’m there.”
Salah, third in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown during his time on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool won their 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.