Liverpool eased past Brighton at Anfield with a controlled 2–0 victory that owed much to Hugo Ekitike’s clinical brace and a headline-grabbing cameo from Mohamed Salah, whose return was greeted with roars rather than resentment.
The champions struck almost immediately. Inside the opening minute, Brighton failed to deal with a loose clearance and Liverpool pounced, Ekitike reacting quickest to convert and give the hosts the fastest goal of the Premier League season. It set the tone for an afternoon where Liverpool rarely looked troubled, even if Brighton threatened enough to suggest the contest could have been closer.
The mood inside Anfield lifted further midway through the first half when Salah was thrust into action earlier than planned, replacing the injured Joe Gomez. Any lingering tension following his recent public comments evaporated instantly, the Kop rising to salute their talisman. What followed was a reminder of his enduring influence.
Brighton responded to the early setback with purpose and carved out opportunities either side of the interval, most notably through Diego Gomez, who somehow failed to capitalise on two clear openings. Liverpool, however, carried the greater edge in decisive moments and managed the game with maturity, even when Brighton enjoyed spells of pressure.
The second goal arrived from a familiar source. Salah’s whipped corner was met by Ekitike, who powered a header home to complete his double and underline his growing importance. The assist carried additional significance, taking Salah past Wayne Rooney as the player with the most Premier League goal involvements for a single club — a landmark achieved quietly, but warmly acknowledged by the Anfield faithful.
Salah was not content with history alone. He roamed intelligently, linked play sharply and nearly capped his return with a goal of his own late on, blazing over after being picked out by Federico Chiesa. It was the only thing missing from a performance that reasserted his value ahead of his departure for AFCON.
Liverpool saw out the closing stages with minimal fuss, extending their unbeaten run and moving up to sixth, while Brighton slipped to ninth after a third straight match without victory. Despite finishing with fewer expected goals, Liverpool’s composure and efficiency told.
After the final whistle, Salah lingered to soak up the applause, acknowledging supporters who had sung his name throughout. Whether it proves a farewell or merely a pause remains unclear, but on this evidence, his bond with Anfield is far from broken.
For Arne Slot, it was a timely reminder of the quality at his disposal. For Liverpool, it was a reassuring win built on early sharpness, set-piece precision and the enduring brilliance of a player who still defines their biggest moments.
