Premier League: Liverpool 2 [Ekitiké 1, 60] Brighton 0
Mohamed Salah’s family were present for what the forward had claimed could be his goodbye to Liverpool. Recalled to the squad and reintroduced to the team after 26 minutes by Arne Slot, there were few clues in that regard from the Egypt international but the mood inside Anfield was clear. Say it ain’t so, Mo.
There were tears in Salah’s eyes as he applauded the Kop after the final whistle of a deserved victory over Brighton but otherwise only signs that Liverpool, Slot and the player himself have it in them to move on from an unedifying episode. Hugo Ekitiké would ordinarily grab the headlines after scoring twice against Fabian Hürzeler’s toothless visitors. Slot will also take great encouragement from Liverpool keeping back-to-back clean sheets for only the third time this season.
But after Friday’s compromise between the Liverpool head coach and one of the greatest players in the club’s history this was all about Salah’s response. It could not be faulted, apart from missing a gilt-edged chance from Federico Chiesa’s gift and failing to put Andy Robertson through on goal late on, and there is clearly more to give. A resolution needs to be found before Salah returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool made the perfect start in numerous respects for Slot. His team had previously won 11 of 13 games when scoring first this season and lost nine of 11 when conceding the opening goal. The fastest goal in the Premier League this season, timed at 46 seconds, was therefore the ideal platform for a team gradually rebuilding stability. But, of course, the benefits of Ekitiké’s emphatic early strike exceeded the mere pattern of a game.
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Given the pre-match attention on Salah and the varying plotlines that could unfold with or without the Egypt international it was important for Liverpool to shift the focus back on to the pitch. A hungry start combined with a costly error by Yankuba Minteh enabled them to do so.
Minteh appeared to have extinguished Liverpool’s first attack when taking the ball off Curtis Jones, who was making his 200th appearance for his boyhood club. With time and space, the Brighton winger swept an inexplicable clearance across his own penalty area to Joe Gomez, whose brave first-time header dropped between the visitors’ central defenders to Ekitiké. The France striker controlled and did well to keep a thunderous shot just under Bart Verbruggen’s crossbar.
Minteh was not spared the wrath of his team-mates but, in fairness to the Gambia international, he did more than anyone else in a Brighton shirt to produce a first-half equaliser. The winger cut inside Milos Kerkez and beat Alisson with a daisy-cutter that sailed just wide of the far post. He also put Diego Gómez through on goal with a superb pass but Alisson read the danger perfectly and was out quickly to block the forward’s shot.
Brighton had plenty of joy playing through Liverpool’s packed midfield – former Seagull Alexis Mac Allister played off Ekitiké with Alexander Isak on the bench – but the hosts carved out the clearer openings. Gomez and Florian Wirtz, a vibrant presence throughout, set up Ekitiké for shots he sent over and wide.
When the unfortunate Gomez went down injured in the 25th minute Slot turned to his bench and instructed Salah to strip off. It was no surprise whatsoever to see Salah named among the Liverpool substitutes again following his recall – results had improved without him – but an early introduction gave all parties a chance to move on before he departs to Afcon on Monday.
Salah entered to a rapturous reception and responded with an energetic and unselfish display. He almost created a second goal for Mac Allister with his first touch and claimed a third Premier League assist of the season to quell Brighton’s attempted comeback in the second half. Salah won a corner when Verbruggen spilled his shot from the edge of the penalty area. The 33-year-old took it too and, while the Kop were still singing Salah’s name, Ekitiké rose completely unmarked at the back post to head home. Salah pointed to the Kop when jogging over to join the celebrations.
The visitors should have been level prior to Ekitiké’s second goal of the game. Mats Wieffer presented Gomez with a glorious chance when leading a break down the left but the forward struck the woodwork when connecting with his low cross at the back post. Brajan Gruda and the substitute Kaoru Mitoma also went close for Brighton. – Guardian
Chelsea 2 [Palmer 21, Gusto 45] Everton 0
Cole Palmer scored on his first Stamford Bridge start in almost four months as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 to move back into the Premier League’s top four.
After four winless matches, Enzo Maresca could hardly have asked for a better moment for his most influential player to announce his return from the groin injury that has wrecked his season up to now, and it came in the 21st minute, the England forward sweeping his side into the lead from Malo Gusto’s clever pass.
Fresh from scoring a first-ever career goal in November, it was Gusto who then got the second from Pedro Neto’s cross before half-time.
Everton’s last win at Chelsea came in 1994 whilst David Moyes had never tasted victory at the London ground. After four league wins in five and with the Blues in faltering form, it looked an opportune moment to settle both of those scores, but Maresca’s talisman ensured the day would be all about him.
Burnley 2 [Ugochukwu 21, Sonne 86] Fulham 3 [Smith Rowe 9, Bassey 31, Wilson 58]
Harry Wilson scored one and set up two more as Fulham piled more pressure on their former manager Scott Parker by inflicting a seventh straight defeat on beleaguered Burnley.
Although Lesley Ugochukwu cancelled out Emile Smith Rowe’s early goal, Calvin Bassey had the Cottagers back in front before half-time and Wilson’s eighth goal of the season put Fulham clear.
Burnley substitute Oliver Sonne scored a late consolation but the Clarets were beaten 3-2.
It was Fulham’s first win at Turf Moor in 30 attempts dating back to April 1951 and extended Burnley’s longest losing run in the league since they lost eight straight during the 1994-95 season, when they suffered relegation to the third tier.
There is again a sinking feeling these days at Turf Moor, where Burnley have not won since beating Leeds 2-0 on October 18th.
Fulham fans, who remember twice being relegated under Parker in his first managerial job, sang ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ to the former England midfielder as they celebrated only a second away win of the season and one that moves them seven points clear of the bottom three.
