Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Mohamed Salah makes impressive return as Hugo Ekitiké nets twice to sink Seagulls

Hugo Ekitiké scored twice but it was Mohamed Salah that commanded centre stage with the Egyptian making an impressive return from his Liverpool exile as the Merseysiders eased past Brighton this afternoon.

Ekitike opened the scoring after just 46 seconds – the fastest goal in the Premier League this season – and doubled the hosts’ advantage on the hour mark.

But Anfield reserved its loudest cheer of the afternoon for the introduction of Salah after 27 minutes as he came on for the injured Joe Gomez.

The Egypt international, who was omitted from the squad for the midweek trip to Inter Milan following his remarkable outburst at Leeds last weekend, was a lively presence throughout and whipped in the corner for Ekitike’s second, moving him third on the all-time list for goal involvements in Premier League history.

If this was to be his final Liverpool appearance – Salah now goes off to the Africa Cup of Nations before the transfer window opens in January with Saudi Arabian clubs circling – it was a fitting farewell, although he ought to have crowned it with a goal, missing a golden chance deep into injury time.

The win moved Liverpool up to sixth in the Premier League table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who also have a game in hand.

Electric start for Liverpool

The Anfield crowd had barely settled into their seats when they were out of them again. Brighton failed to clear their lines properly and Gomez was able to nod the ball into the path of Ekitike and he took one touch before firing past Bart Verbruggen.

Liverpool hadn’t scored a first-half goal in any of their last five Premier League matches, making it the dream start for boss Arne Slot.

The Dutchman would not have been totally happy with his team’s attempts to consolidate their advantage, though, as Brighton gradually found a foothold in the game.

Yankuba Minteh was particularly lively down the Brighton right and he nearly levelled matters after 14 minutes, stepping inside before curling a shot inches wide of Alisson’s upright.

Minteh then created a great opportunity for Diego Gomez with a clever reverse pass but the Paraguay international fired his shot straight at the legs of the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Ekitike remained a menace at the other end, firing Joe Gomez’s cut-back over the bar before scuffing wide after being picked out by Florian Wirtz.

Lively Salah peps up Liverpool attack

Salah’s introduction gave Liverpool renewed energy with the 33-year-old instantly looking dangerous. A quick run into the box picked out Alexis Mac Allister before the attack petered out and he then played a part in another move that culminated in Ekitike flashing a shot wide of the upright.

The half ended with Diego Gomez scything through Wirtz and he was fortunate to escape with merely a yellow card.

Both sides had chances early in the second period, Ekitike shooting narrowly wide before Brighton came within inches of an equaliser. Mats Wieffer was the architect with a cross to the far post that Diego Gomez could only poke against the post at full stretch.

Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s second. It was his stinging shot that led to Verbruggen tipping the ball round the post for a corner and, from the ensuing set-piece, Ekitike got the second goal his performance merited by heading in Salah’s delivery.

Kaoru Mitoma, off the bench for his first appearance since late September due to injury, came close after combining with Georginio Rutter as Brighton pushed forward in search of a consolation.

That left them exposed and Salah could have had the final say but, having been played in by Federico Chiesa, he shot wastefully over the bar.