Salah Returns to Anfield Action in Brighton Clash

Mohamed Salah made a triumphant return to the Liverpool lineup during the club's 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield. The Egyptian forward, who had been sidelined following a public dispute with the club, was brought on in the 26th minute to replace the injured Joe Gomez.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot described Salah's inclusion as an "easy decision," insisting there were "no issues to resolve" between them. "What's been said between the two of us, I've said many times, for me that stays between us," Slot told Sky Sports post-match. "He was back in the squad and we needed him."

Salah received a warm welcome from the home crowd as he stepped onto the pitch. He quickly made an impact, providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike's second goal with a precise corner. The forward had several other opportunities to add to the score but ultimately completed a celebratory lap of the pitch at full-time.

Slot praised Salah's performance, noting, "He was a threat. The first ball he touched, he almost gave an assist to [Alexis] Mac Allister. He was constantly involved, pleasing but also not a surprise because he's done that many times."

Despite Salah's positive return, uncertainty looms over his future at Liverpool. The 33-year-old is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Monday, and there is speculation about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League during the January transfer window. Slot, however, did not comment on Salah's long-term prospects.

Full-back Milos Kerkez also weighed in on Salah's return, stating, "He came full of energy, he helped us a lot. Everyone knows what Mo does for the club, what he's doing, so we're really happy to have him here. I hope he goes on."

Salah has been a crucial player for Liverpool, currently standing as the club's third-highest goalscorer with 250 goals in 421 appearances. However, he has not started a match for Liverpool in his last five games. Earlier in the week, Salah had mentioned inviting his family to the Brighton game and hinted at saying goodbye to the fans before departing for Afcon.

Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas, is expected to engage in discussions with the club while Salah is away on international duty. The forward still has 18 months left on his contract, which he signed in April 2023. Liverpool had previously rejected a £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad during the summer of 2023.