Mohamed Salah’s family were present for what the forward had claimed could be his goodbye to Liverpool. Recalled to the squad and reintroduced to the team after 26 minutes by Arne Slot, there were few clues in that regard from the Egypt international but the mood inside Anfield was clear. Say it ain’t so, Mo.
There were tears in Salah’s eyes as he applauded the Kop after the final whistle of a deserved victory over Brighton but otherwise only signs that Liverpool, Slot and the player himself have it in them to move on from an unedifying episode. Hugo Ekitiké would ordinarily grab the headlines after scoring twice against Fabian Hürzeler’s toothless visitors. Slot will also take great encouragement from Liverpool keeping back-to-back clean sheets for only the third time this season.
But after Friday’s compromise between the Liverpool head coach and one of the greatest players in the club’s history this was all about Salah’s response. It could not be faulted, apart from missing a gilt-edged chance from Federico Chiesa’s gift and failing to put Andy Robertson through on goal late on, and there is clearly more to give. A resolution needs to be found before Salah returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
