Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners over Brighton as Mohamed Salah came off the bench in the first half

Mohamed Salah was at the centre of a fierce disagreement on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, with the panel having plenty to say about the forward's current situation

Mohamed Salah was at the centre of a fierce disagreement on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, with the panel having plenty to say about the forward's current situation

Mohamed Salah returned to action for Liverpool against Brighton on Saturday and played a key role in their victory over the Seagulls

Mohamed Salah returned to action for Liverpool against Brighton on Saturday and played a key role in their victory over the Seagulls

Player ratings as Liverpool earned a 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League at Anfield

Player ratings as Liverpool earned a 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League at Anfield

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Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has returned to the Reds' squad for their Premier League clash against Brighton but he faces an uncertain future at Anfield ahead of the January transfer window

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has returned to the Reds' squad for their Premier League clash against Brighton but he faces an uncertain future at Anfield ahead of the January transfer window

Liverpool star Florian Writz was caught in the chest by a Brighton player's studs but VAR controversially did not recommend a red card

Liverpool star Florian Writz was caught in the chest by a Brighton player's studs but VAR controversially did not recommend a red card

The Premier League has provided an explanation after Brighton player Diego Gomez avoided a red card for a dangerous challenge on Liverpool's Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool took the lead after just 48 seconds after Hugo Ekitike converted his first opportunity, set up by Joe Gomez’s header high up the pitch.

Brighton have kept Liverpool on alert, forcing Alisson into a key save, while the Reds have struggled to test Verbruggen, squandering several chances in front of goal.

In stoppage time in the first-half, Wirtz was brought down by a high tackle from Gomez, striking his midriff, but after a VAR review, officials decided not to intervene.

Wirtz clutched his chest after attempting to flick the ball past Gomez on the edge of the box, only for the Brighton midfielder’s outstretched leg to follow through and strike his stomach.

The Premier League has taken to X/Twitter to explain the decision. It said: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Gomez was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge on Wirtz deemed not to be with excessive force and not serious foul play.”

Although the Paraguay international avoided an immediate dismissal, Gomez’s fifth yellow card of the season means he will miss Brighton’s next match against Sunderland.

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton believes Brighton are lucky not to be down to 10 me. "The challenge on Wirtz is a really poor one from Gomez" said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live live at Anfield.

Diego Gomez was booked for his challenge on Florian Wirtz

It's really high and catches Wirtz in the stomach. He must've been booked from that? So high and dangerous. Another day, he could've seen red.

Liverpool fans have taken to social media to express their shock at the decision. One said: "This should have been a red card for the foul on Wirtz from Diego Gomez."

On Liverpool's performance in the first-half, Sutton added: Arne Slot wanted a fast start, all the talk about Salah before the game, and they did get a fast start.

"Ekitike who has had a really good start to his Liverpool career with a ruthless finish. It's been a good game though because you feel like there's something still in it for Brighton."

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Joe Gomez has handed Liverpool a fresh injury concern after being forced off with an injury during the first half of Liverpool's game against Brighton.

The England defender lined up at right-back for the Premier League meeting with the Seagulls but lasted less than half an hour, with Mohamed Salah coming on in his place.

Gomez has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and the last year has seen him suffer a number of problems, with a hamstring problem sidelining him for the second half of last season.

Gomez's withdrawal forced Dominik Szoboszlai back to right-back, due to the a lack of suitable options on the Liverpool bench to replace the 28-year-old.

Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a hamstring problem, while Conor Bradley was suspended for the game against Brighton after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Leeds last weekend.

Young center-back Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while Wataru Endo, another possible option to play in defense, is out with an ankle injury.

Liverpool's defensive injury situation meant that the only genuine defenders named on the bench against Brighton were Andy Robertson, Wellity Lucky and Calvin Ramsay.

Gomez came in for praise from Arne Slot earlier this month after returning to the team for the victory over West Ham.

Slot said that the defender possessed the rare quality of being able to play at a high level regardless of how long he had been sidelined for.

“It’s a skillset he has,” Slot said in a press conference. “After a long time not playing you can play him again and he just performs as he did before that.

“That’s something that’s not easy, because I’ve worked with more than a few players that, after a certain amount of time without playing, it’s difficult to get to a certain standard again. So it’s definitely one of his skillsets.”

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Mohamed Salah started on the bench for Liverpool's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, but it didn't take long for Arne Slot to deploy him when Joe Gomez picked up a first-half injury

Mohamed Salah started on the bench for Liverpool's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, but it didn't take long for Arne Slot to deploy him when Joe Gomez picked up a first-half injury

The team sheets are in at Anfield. Arne Slot met with Mohamed Salah yesterday and the pair appear to have patched things up—at least enough for the Egyptian King to return to the matchday squad.

However, the big news is that Salah starts on the bench.

Hugo Ekitiké leads the line as the lone striker, with Alexander Isak also dropping to the bench due to a minor knock.

H2: Liverpool Confirmed Lineup vs Brighton

Starting XI:

• GK: Alisson
• DEF: Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez
• MID: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch
• FWD: Ekitiké

H2: The Substitutes Bench

Mamardashvili, Woodman, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky.

Updated injury list.

H2: Brighton Confirmed Starting XI

Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Minteh, Gruda, Gomez, Rutter.

H2: Rapid Reaction: Slot's Tactical Shift

Arne Slot has made a bold call, shifting to a 3-man midfield rather than the "box" midfield (4 players) he used to dismantle Inter Milan.

• The Surprise: Milos Kerkez starts at left-back over Andy Robertson, offering more pace against Brighton's wingers.
• The Attack: With Isak carrying a knock, the pressure is on Hugo Ekitiké to hold up the ball and bring the midfield runners (Szoboszlai and Jones) into play.

H2: Where to Watch

• Kickoff: Saturday, 3 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EST
• UK TV: No Broadcast Available Due To Embargo
• US TV: Peacock / Fubo
• Live Stream: Peacock
• Location  Anfield

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Mohamed Salah’s return to Liverpool’s squad against Brighton drew immediate reactions from supporters, with fans quickly making their feelings known about the forward’s situation.

Last week, Salah claimed he had no relationship with Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot, making several explosive remarks in a bombshell interview following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.

Speaking to reporters after watching the match from the bench at Elland Road, he accused the club of breaking promises made when he signed a new contract and described the situation as “not acceptable.”

His comments subsequently led to his omission from the squad for Liverpool’s midweek trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Salah returned to the squad for Saturday’s clash against Brighton after holding talks with Slot at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, though the details of their discussions remain unclear.

The 33-year-old didn't return to the starting XI but remained on the bench for his fourth game. Ahead of the game, Salah received a warm round of applause as he headed down the tunnel after the warm-up and reciprocated the gesture.

Salah received loud cheers and applause after he replaced Joe Gomez who was forced off with an injury after just 25 minutes.

Around this time last year, a banner appeared on the Kop depicting Salah with the words: “FSG. He fires a bow, now give Mo his dough!” By April, Salah was celebrated on a throne inside Anfield to mark his new contract, and just over two weeks later, Liverpool secured the Premier League title.

Fast forward eight months, and the 33-year-old found himself out of the starting XI, embroiled in a public dispute with the club and Slot. In a damning statement regarding his relationship with Slot, Salah replied to a question about how the pair get along behind the scenes. "Yeah, there's no relationship between us," he said. "It was very good relationship and now all of a sudden there is no relationship."

"After what I have done for the club it really hurts," Salah added. "You can imagine, really. After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting.

"I know the club too well, I have been here many years. Tomorrow Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine."

He was also questioned on whether he regretted signing the new two-year contract earlier this year. "Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly," Salah said. "That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it.

"I thought 'I'm going to renew here and end my career here', but this is not according to the plan, so I'm not regretting signing for the club for sure."

Liverpool.com says: Salah's decision to air his frustrations following a match he didn’t play, in which Liverpool dropped points, left fans divided but the reaction from those at Anfield but the reaction today shows they are firmly behind the Egyptian.

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We asked fans what they thought of the row between the Egyptian star and his manager ahead of today's match

We asked fans what they thought of the row between the Egyptian star and his manager ahead of today's match