12/13/25 11:59:00
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12/13 11:57 CST Salah returns to help Liverpool beat Brighton in Premier
League. Palmer scores in Chelsea win
Salah returns to help Liverpool beat Brighton in Premier League. Palmer scores
in Chelsea win
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
The first stage of Mohamed Salah's rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete
after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in
the Premier League on Saturday.
The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a
future for him at Anfield when he comes back?
Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool,
entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of
Hugo Ekitike's goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to
five games in all competitions.
Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by
Cole Palmer's first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place
Wolverhampton later.
Rapturous welcome
Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to
overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the
matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last
three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek
Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments
to reporters last weekend.
"It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. "I have said many
times before what has been said between us will stay between us."
Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of
anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the
injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.
By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the
first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the
counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the
second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.
Slot said Salah was a threat all game.
"Pleasing to see but not a surprise," Slot said.
Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the
Africa Cup.
Cool finish
It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a
groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.
There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass
and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st
minute at Stamford Bridge.
However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he
was "still dealing with an injury."
"It's just a matter of not doing too much too soon," Palmer told the BBC.
"Literally, it's just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better."
Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to
fourth place.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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