Paul Gorst’s verdict from Anfield as Liverpool make it five games unbeaten with a 2-0 win against Brighton
This was a day for Anfield to salute its heroes: old and new; on the pitch and in the dugout. From super-sub Mohamed Salah and two-goal Hugo Ekitike through to the boss Arne Slot, the Liverpool fans packed inside the ground made their points known all afternoon long.
There will be no choosing of sides, it seems, when it comes to star player and title-winning coach and the hope now is that Friday’s clear-the-air talks between Salah and Slot go a long way towards repairing their relationship following the Egyptian’s incendiary interview at Leeds United a week ago.
After this 2-0 win over Brighton, Slot’s side are now unbeaten in five games across all competitions and while two of those were admittedly disappointing draws to Sunderland and Leeds, a squad who had previously appeared so bereft of confidence or belief are slowly emerging out of a harrowing period that had threatened to derail the entire campaign.
All eyes, of course, were on Salah after his return to the match-day squad. The Egypt star was left on Merseyside for the Champions League trip to Inter this week on the back of his remarkable insubordination at Elland Road and he was probably as surprised as anyone when he was summoned in the first half after an injury to Joe Gomez.
Having failed to find the net in the opening 45 minutes since November 1, against Aston Villa, the Premier League champions had their earliest goal of the season after just 46 seconds when Gomez’s header back into the danger area was snaffled by an in-form Ekitike.
The No.22 once more led the line with aplomb, always giving his colleagues an out-ball with his comfort in possession and strength and poise against a powerful Seagulls backline.
It’s fair to say the majority of the summer signings have endured difficult starts to their careers so far, but Ekititke has undoubtedly been the pick of the bunch. His languid, rangy style is hugely appreciated by supporters and another player who is gradually playing his way into the affections of the Kop is Florian Wirtz, who was excellent here.
The Germany international never stops and his willingness to stay on the move allows him to so often find space for his team-mates to pick him out. It must be so helpful for Wirtz’s colleagues to constantly see someone of his quality showing for the ball and this was another encouraging step forward in what has been a good few weeks for the £116m attacking midfielder.
After mainly reserving his best performances for the Champions League, this was another impressive domestic outing for the No.7, to build on the recent games against West Ham United, in particular and Sunderland. Both Wirtz and Ekitike deservedly left to huge ovations with a little over 10 minutes to play.
Ekitike, who had a fine game, nodded home from Salah’s corner shortly after the hour mark. It was the France international’s 10th of the campaign across all competitions and his seventh in the Premier League.
And the delivery that was curled over from Salah means the assists takes him clear of Wayne Rooney on to 277 Premier League goal involvements for the same club. It’s another record for the ‘Egyptian King’ to call his own, but will it be his last significant contribution? That, for now, remains the salient question.
It was a deserved win for the Reds, who huffed and puffed to no avail in the search of a third and the most heartening thing for Slot will be how routine this all felt. This was a throwback to the sort of games the champions had so often last season en route to the title; hard-fought and decisive.
But given the turbulent nature of events off this pitch this week, it is fitting that the final word went to Salah, who was serenaded by the Kop at full time. It was no coincidence that the James hit ‘Sit Down’ – which inspired the famous terrace anthem in Salah’s honour – was played over the loudspeaker after the final whistle.
Whatever the individual takes on his surprise outburst last week, it’s crystal clear he retains the backing of those who have worshipped him virtually since day one at this club, way back in 2017.
Back then, he was a young player keen to rebuild his reputation in English football after being branded, unfairly or not, as a flop at Chelsea. Now, at the age of 33 – as a superstar of a team who have won the Premier League twice and Champions League largely on the back of his goals – he stands at something of a crossroads.
Clearly unhappy with being demoted in recent weeks, what happens next remains anyone’s guess on the other side of the Africa Cup of Nations. But fortunately for Slot and Liverpool as a whole, they have that tournament in Morocco to use as coverage from another barrage of Salah-related questions. That breathing space might just allow enough time for the dust to settle on what is still a tempestuous situation for the entire football club.
But as Salah lapped up the acclaim of the Kop while giving it back himself, surely he will have thought twice about what a post-Liverpool life actually looks like for him in reality. This can’t be how it all ends for such a storybook career. Right place, wrong time.
