December 13, (THEWILL) — Liverpool defeated Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah breaking the English Premier League record for most goal involvements with a single club.
The Egyptian forward came off the bench to assist one of Hugo Ekitike’s two goals, taking his total to 277 involvements for the Reds.
Salah was named among the substitutes following clear-the-air talks with head coach Arne Slot on Friday after a public disagreement.
He entered the match after just 26 minutes, replacing the injured Joe Gomez.
The defender had earlier assisted the fastest EPL goal of the season to date, nodding a sliced clearance from Yankuba Minteh down to Ekitike, who took a wonderful touch before lashing into the roof of the net.
Brighton responded through Minteh, who curled past the far post, and Diego Gomez, whose effort was smothered by Alisson after receiving a threaded pass from Minteh.
Liverpool remained the more dangerous side throughout the first half, with one flowing move involving Salah culminating in a wayward effort from Ekitike.
Brighton improved in the early stages of the second half, with Diego Gomez striking the post from Mats Wieffer’s cross before Brajan Gruda sent a shot skipping past the far post.
Liverpool made the points safe on the hour mark when Ekitike was left completely unmarked from Salah’s inswinging corner to nod home at the back post.
The goal is Ekitike’s second straight brace in the League following his double against Leeds United the previous week. Brighton could not find a response, leaving Liverpool to celebrate a comfortable victory.
Salah now has 188 goals and 89 assists for Liverpool in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney’s 276 for Manchester United.
He had been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool’s previous three EPL games, having only been an unused substitute three times in his first 303 matchday squad appearances for the Reds.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
