Future open before Africa Cup of Nations
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Mohamed Salah was the last player to leave the field, he waved again towards the main stand, where his family was sitting, then he disappeared into the catacombs. Only the offensive player himself knows whether this was his last farewell at Anfield after Liverpool FC beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0. Salah will now initially play for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 33-year-old casually set a record after coming on as a substitute the day after a conversation with Liverpool coach Arne Slot. He now alone holds the record for most goal involvements at a Premier League club. Two weeks after a sensational interview, Salah didn’t feel like saying a lot, but he also didn’t feel like having another argument. “Two weeks in a row? No, no,” he said jokingly and with a smile to reporters who wanted to question him.
Master coach Slot, on the other hand, answered the question with a clear “yes” as to whether he wanted Salah back after the Africa Cup of Nations. The Dutchman and the attacker had a conversation on Friday that was obviously positive. After heavy criticism of Slot, who didn’t call him into the starting line-up three times and didn’t even take him to the Champions League game at Inter Milan, Salah initially at least sat on the substitutes’ bench again. Slot replaced him in the 26th minute, and Salah even set a milestone with his assist for the final goal.
He now has 277 goal involvements for a single Premier League club, more than anyone else in English league history. He previously shared the record with Wayne Rooney (Manchester United). Salah is still 47 goals shy of the top scorer in Premier League history, Alan Shearer. If he were to fulfill his contract, which runs until 2027, he could still set this record.
Liverpool fans celebrate Salah – high praise from fellow players
After the final whistle, the visibly touched Salah thanked the fans for the applause and chants. Slot didn’t want to go into the conversation the day before. “What was said between us remains between us. He was in the squad and my first substitution,” explained the 47-year-old. “For me he is now a player like any other.” Many fans had already cheered Salah after about half an hour when he replaced the injured Joe Gomez. It was clear to see that the playful offensive star – one of the main pillars of the team under Slot’s predecessor Jürgen Klopp – wanted to prove himself.
It was a blessing to be on the field with Salah, said Hugo Ekitiké. The ex-Frankfurt player gave the hosts the lead in the first minute and scored the final goal with a header after a corner from Salah after an hour. The Egyptian is “the type of player who makes us enjoy watching football,” added the Frenchman. In stoppage time, Salah missed a great chance to score his own goal.
He definitely won’t be playing for Liverpool FC again, at least in the coming weeks; the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco doesn’t end until the final on January 18th. The weakened team with Florian Wirtz, who arrived in the summer, wants to continue the slight upward trend of the past few weeks during this time. After numerous defeats, there have been three wins and two draws in the last five competitive games. Premier League leaders Arsenal FC are well ahead, but the gap to the international places in the table is not yet huge. Liverpool are ninth in the Champions League and a direct move into the round of 16 is still possible – maybe with Salah.