LIVERPOOL 2-1 BRIGHTON: Goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah saw Jurgen Klopp’s side come from behind after Danny Welbeck’s opener to earn a crucial victory in the title race
In his absence, all of the Anfield talk, quite rightly, was about the kids, the golden generation emerging from the academy ranks.
And even when he clipped home the decisive goal of this enjoyable contest, social media was abuzz with affection for Alexis Mac Allister and his fiendishly intelligent assist. You can also be certain that the chat around Liverpool will soon return to the subject of Jurgen Klopp, his departure and his successor.
But if there is one man who remains central to Liverpool’s success on the field – both for this season and next – it is the incomparable Mohamed Salah. It is fair to say this was not Salah at his most mesmerising or accomplished. Far from it. Some might even say this was Salah at his most selfish.
But when it mattered, his composure was the crucial difference between the two sides, his calmness maintaining Liverpool’s title momentum. Salah has now scored or assisted in 19 of the last 20 Premier League games at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool dressing room ‘shook for hours’ but told squad: ‘Don’t let it get to you’
Klopp will, of course, leave a significant void at Anfield – but so will Salah if he takes the Saudi dollar in the summer. Like Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold only has one more full season under contract and there is a school of thought on Merseyside that considers a possible sale of the England man to be no bad thing in the context of Conor Bradley’s emergence at right-back.
That school might be having a rethink after Simon Adingra gave the Liverpool defender – who was again hugely impressive going forward – a thorough examination here. Make no mistake, in the Ivorian attacker, who tired late on, Brighton have another valuable gem on their hands.
Brighton’s early strike was all about Danny Welbeck’s underrated finishing prowess – showcased by this crisp right-footed strike from 18 yards – but Adingra had caused the initial defensive consternation. To say he kept Bradley honest would be an understatement.
