The China Mail - Salah back in Liverpool fold as Arsenal grab last-gasp win

The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes' bench to huge cheers in the first half, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.

The home team, whose Premier League title defence has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.

Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored his second with half an hour to go, heading home Salah's corner.

The Egyptian superstar now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League -- 188 goals and 89 assists -- a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's mark for Manchester United.

Saturday marked a dramatic change of mood around Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds.

That was the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.

The 33-year-old winger also said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot in his extraordinary outburst and was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.

After Saturday's win Slot said there was "no issue to resolve" with Salah, though uncertainty remains over his long-term future at the club.

"For me he's now the same as any other player," said the Dutchman.

"You talk to your players if you're happy or unhappy with things, but there's nothing for me to talk about after what happened against Leeds, after the game."

He added: "I spoke to him yesterday and I think, as I usually never say anything about (what) we talk about, I'm not going to make an exception now, but I think actions speak louder than what has been said.

"He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitutions, I brought him in. And he performed as I think every fan, including me, would like him to perform today."

Salah will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and could potentially be absent for five weeks.

The 2-0 win -- Liverpool's first at Anfield since November 4 -- lifts Slot's men to sixth in the table.

But their title defence is in ruins after a terrible run of just two wins in 10 league matches before the visit of Brighton.

- Arsenal late show -

The Reds are 10 points behind leaders Arsenal, who narrowly avoided dropping vital points against bottom side Wolves in Saturday's late kick-off, courtesy of two own goals in a 2-1 win.

Arsenal had huffed and puffed for 70 minutes before the ball rebounded off Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and into his own net.

Astonishingly, Wolves pulled level in the 90th minute but just as the home fans contemplated a damaging draw, the Gunners benefited from a second own goal when Bukayo Saka's cross was diverted into his own net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera in the 94th minute.

Earlier, Cole Palmer, whose season has been badly disrupted by a groin injury, scored his first goal since September, as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 to move back into the top four.

But after the match manager Enzo Maresca made startling comments, saying he had suffered his "worst 48 hours" since joining the club in July 2024.

The Italian hit out at unnamed parties for failing to support him and his players, though he stressed that he was not referring to fans.

"The last 48 hours has been the worst since I joined the club because many people didn't support me and the team," he said. "In general."

Asked whether he was talking about the club's supporters, he added: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."

On Friday he had said that only victories would stop supporters from complaining on social media and reflected on his 30 years in football, saying: "I know that if you don't win everyone complains."

Fulham beat relegation-threatened Burnley 3-2.

S.Davis--ThChM