Salah's Comeback Countdown: Liverpool's Big Brighton Test Sparks Tension-to-Trust Turn
13 December 2025
Salah's Historic Impact Against Brighton
Numbers tell the story before any narrative when Mohamed Salah is involved. The Egyptian star holds a convincing record against Brighton, facing the side in 18 matches across competitions, with 10 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, scoring 10 goals and contributing 7 assists, according to Transfermarkt. These figures reflect his lasting influence and lend added weight to his return after a short absence.
In this context, English outlets report Salah's return to Liverpool's squad ahead of the Brighton clash, scheduled today in the Premier League, signaling a partial easing of tension with the coaching staff.
Salah had been limited to the bench in Liverpool's last three Premier League games as the defending champions started the season slowly, prompting questions about his role within the side.
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During the Leeds United match that ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw last Saturday, Salah wasn't used as a substitute, fueling talk of a potential issue with the coach. He later stated he felt he had been “sacrificed,” noting that his relationship with Dutch manager Arne Slot had not been easy at that moment.
English media amplified the controversy, with Salah subsequently left out of Liverpool's squad for the trip to Inter Milan, where the Reds won 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
According to The Times, a direct meeting between Salah and Slot at Anfield on Friday helped defuse the tension and paved Salah's return to the squad ahead of Brighton.
Liverpool sit 10th in the Premier League with 23 points; Brighton are 8th with the same tally, setting the stage for a tightly contested clash as both chase European qualification.
Telegraph suggested Salah would start on the bench against Brighton, with the final decision depending on Slot's assessment as the game unfolds.
Predicted Liverpool XI (per Telegraph): Alisson Becker; Joe Gomez, Ibrahim Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kirkycz; Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister; Dominik Szoboszlai, Salah, Hugo Iketike.
Liverpool's upcoming encounter is also a moment of personal significance for Salah, as it could mark his last appearance for the Reds before reporting to the Egypt national squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, giving the match added artistic and mental weight.
