Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Ekitiké's brace seals well-needed 3pts as Salah assists

Mohamed Salah claimed the record for the most Premier League goal involvements for a single club on his return to Liverpool's squad, assisting one of Hugo Ekitike's two goals in a 2-0 win over Brighton.

Match Report

Having held clear-the-air talks with Arne Slot on Friday following a public spat with his head coach, Salah was named on the bench at Anfield and was called for after just 26 minutes.

He replaced the injured Joe Gomez, who had earlier assisted the quickest Premier League goal of the season to date. The defender nodded a sliced clearance from Yankuba Minteh down to Ekitike, who took a wonderful touch before lashing into the roof of the net.

Minteh looked to atone for that error, curling past the far post and threading a wonderful pass through for Diego Gomez, who saw his effort smothered by Alisson.

But Liverpool were 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.

However, Liverpool made the points safe on the hour mark, with Ekitike left completely unmarked from Salah's inswinging corner to nod home at the back post.

Data Debrief: Salah takes single-club record 

Salah equalled the single-season record for Premier League goal involvements during Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winning campaign, but on Saturday, he took another record outright.

He now has 188 goals and 89 assists for Liverpool in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney (276 for Manchester United) for the most for a single club.

Salah had been an unused substitute in two of Liverpool's previous three Premier League games, having only been an unused substitute three times in his first 303 matchday squad appearances for the Reds. 

This was a triumphant return for Salah, but Ekitike was Liverpool's star performer on the day with his second straight brace in the Premier League (also versus Leeds United last week).

His opener was Liverpool's first goal in the opening minute of a Premier League game since Naby Keita netted their fastest ever goal in the competition in April 2019, after 15 seconds versus Huddersfield Town.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' GOAL! Ekitiké nets a header just in 60 SECONDS! Liverpool 1-0 Brighton

12' Minteh cuts in from the right and rolls a low effort wide of the far post

14' Alisson thwarts a good Brighton move that sees Wieffer slide in Gomez

15' Match Event for Liverpool vs Brighton

21' Wirtz back-heels the ball for Ekitike but the striker's low shot goes wide

26' Joe Gomez subs off due to injury, Salah is on!

29' A Liverpool move opens up Brighton but Ekitike hooks wide from Wirtz's pass

46' Ekitike sends a cross but his attempt is cleared by the defender

48' Diego Gómez is booked yellow for his bad tackle on Wirtz

50' Ekitike dribbles to the edge of the box and unleashes a shot that goes wide

51' Wieffer slides a brilliant pass into Gomez, but his shot goes a whisker wide

60' GOAL! Ekitiké nets a header as Salah assists! Liverpool 2-0 Brighton

64' Brajan Gruda leaves the pitch and is replaced by Kaoru Mitoma

68' Szoboszlai is struggling after picking up a knock

78' Robertson and Alexander Isak replace Wirtz and Ekitike

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz

Subs: Salah, Robertson, Isak, Chiesa, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Calvin Ramsay, Wellity Lucky, Rio Ngumoha

Brighton XI: Dunk, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Georginio Rutter, Mats Wieffer, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Diego Gómez, Carlos Baleba, Brajan Gruda, Yankuba Minteh, Jack Hinshelwood

Subs: Milner, Steele, Welbeck, Veltman, Olivier Boscagli, Kaoru Mitoma, Maxim De Cuyper, Yasin Ayari, Charalampos Kostoulas