Liverpool vs Brighton, Salah returns amid uncertainty
Mohamed Salah will be back in the Liverpool squad for the visit of Brighton, yet his Anfield future remains clouded by tension, timing and talk. The Egyptian’s return feels significant, not only for what he brings on the pitch but for what it symbolises after a turbulent week that has dominated discussion around Liverpool and Brighton alike.
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Salah’s situation escalated following his public frustration last weekend, when he accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” and suggested that someone was trying to drive him out after being named on the bench for three straight games. In a season shaped by Arne Slot’s authority and Liverpool’s Premier League triumph, this episode has cut sharply across the narrative of stability.
Salah, Slot and fragile truce
Showdown talks were held on Friday between Salah and Slot, leading to the decision that he would return to the squad as both sides aim to boost their European hopes for next season. It is a pragmatic resolution rather than a definitive one, offering Liverpool short term unity while questions over Salah’s longer term future linger.
Photo: IMAGO
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Whether Salah starts against Brighton remains unclear. Slot has options and dilemmas in equal measure, particularly with Alexander Isak a doubt after the manager revealed he picked up a knock against Inter Milan in midweek. Liverpool’s attacking structure has evolved under Slot, but Salah’s presence still alters the emotional and tactical temperature of any match.
Team news shaping Liverpool vs Brighton
Liverpool hope Federico Chiesa will return after missing the trip to Italy through illness. However, Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo remain out and face a few weeks on the sidelines. Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are also absent, stretching squad depth at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Brighton arrive with renewed optimism. The visitors are boosted by the return of four players, including winger Kaoru Mitoma. Fabian Hurzeler has confirmed he, along with Yasin Ayari, Tom Watson and former Red James Milner, are all back available for today’s game. Solly March and Adam Webster remain out, while striker Stefanos Tzimas has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
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Kick off time and TV details
Liverpool vs Brighton kicks off at 3 pm UK time at Anfield. For fans in the US, that is 10 am Eastern Time and 7 am Pacific Time. The match falls under the 3 pm blackout in the UK and cannot be broadcast live. In the US, coverage is available via Peacock and NBCSN, with streaming also provided on Peacock.
This meeting feels loaded with narrative weight. Liverpool seek calm and control, Brighton opportunity and momentum. Salah’s return ensures attention, but the performance may matter even more than the headlines.