Mohamed Salah is in action at Anfield in what could be his final appearance for Liverpool as the Reds host Brighton in the Premier League and the fallout from his explosive interview continues.
Head coach Arne Slot decided to recall the star forward after holding further discussions at Liverpool’s training centre on Friday and he was named on the bench. But Slot had to turn to Salah early in the first half after an injury to Joe Gomez.
Salah will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool play Brighton and he will be away with Egypt for several weeks. He said during his interview at Leeds that he had told his family to come to the Brighton match in case it is his last for the club, with the transfer window opening in January and the 33-year-old facing an uncertain future.
On the pitch, Liverpool are unbeaten in four but dropped points late on against Leeds last weekend, while Brighton scored a late equaliser to rescue a point against West Ham and come into this fixture above the reigning champions.
The match is not on TV but you can follow all the latest updates from Anfield below:
Liverpool vs Brighton live
- Liverpool host Brighton in the Premier League
- 26' Salah cheered onto the pitch after replacing injured Gomez [LIV 1-0 BRI]
- 1' GOAL! Hugo Ekitike strikes inside first minute after Brighton error [LIV 1-0 BRI]
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Ekitike, Gravenberch
- Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Gruda, Georginio, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Kadioglu, Gomez, Wieffer
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
16:11 , Richard JollyAnother shot from Ekitike, who has been really bright today. It has been another game to demonstrate that he has been far and away Liverpool's best striker this season and that Alexander Isak, when he next gets on the pitch, could do with being this lively.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
16:10 , Jamie Braidwood48 mins: CHANCE! Brighton are inches away from being level! Wieffer puts in a great cross and Gomez, who could have been sent off late in the first half, arrives at the back post but puts wide from four yards!
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
16:09 , Jamie Braidwood47 mins: Ekitike glides forward but his shot is curled wide of the post. Almost a sensational solo goal.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
16:06 , Jamie BraidwoodWe’re back underway! No changes from Brighton, but their bench looks strong with Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma options if they continue to trail in the second half.
Premier League statement on Gomez's challenge on Wirtz
15:55 , Jamie Braidwood“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.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League
15:53 , Jamie BraidwoodEverton have been on top at Stamford Bridge but it’s Chelsea who lead thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto, both scored against the run of play.
HALF TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:49 , Richard JollyQuite a lively first half, whether with the spectacular start or the early emergence of Salah from the bench. Brighton have played their part in an open game. Minteh has threatened to make amends for his part in the Liverpool goal but the home side probably merit their lead.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:49 , Jamie Braidwood45+2 mins: Wirtz has been floored by a high tackle from Gomez.... VAR has had a look but will not intervene.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:45 , Jamie Braidwood45 mins: We’ve got three minutes of added time to play after that Joe Gomez injury.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:44 , Jamie Braidwood43 mins: Can either side grab a goal late in the half? Gravenberch has curled straight at Verbruggen from the outside of the box.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:42 , Jamie Braidwood41 mins: A decent counter-attack opportunity from Brighton as Minteh is released by a long ball. Konate got across just in time to cut out the danger as Gomez lurked for the chance.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:37 , Richard Jolly37 mins: A couple of early observations. Salah is putting in conspicuous amounts of effort and he has been willing to pass the ball. All of which suggests he is aware of some criticisms of him in other games.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:34 , Jamie Braidwood33 mins: Quite the twist to the afternoon as Slot arrives onto the pitch far earlier than expected. And Liverpool are enjoying one of their better displays this season.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:31 , Jamie Braidwood31 mins: Another chance for Liverpool, who are creating opportunities with the speed and movement of their attack. Szoboszlai, Salah and Wirtz combine before Ekitike curls wide.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:29 , Jamie Braidwood28 mins: Salah is immediately involved, too, setting up a chance for Mac Allister to cross for Ekitike. The Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen is sharp off his line to save.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:27 , Richard JollyIncredible! Salah is on after just 25 minutes, due to the injury suffered by Gomez. Salah is cheered onto the pitch ahead of what is possibly his final Liverpool game.
And Szoboszlai goes to right-back, not for the first time this season.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:25 , Richard JollyAnd, instead of a right-back, it is Mohamed Salah coming on. A standing ovation from many supporters, with huge cheers.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:25 , Jamie Braidwood24 mins: Joe Gomez is down which is a concern for Liverpool for multiple reasons. Partly because he has started very well but partly because, with Conor Bradley banned and Jeremie Frimpong injured, they are short of right-backs.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:24 , Jamie Braidwood22 mins: If Liverpool are preparing for a post-Salah world, the partnership between Ekitike and Wirtz is offering some encouragement.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:22 , Jamie Braidwood20 mins: Good work from Wirtz to dribble into the box and set up Ekitike with a clever flick. Ekitike flashes his shot across the target and wide.
Anfield erupts into applause in the 20th minute in tribute for Diogo Jota.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:18 , Jamie Braidwood16 mins: Rutter is next to trouble the goal but he was flagged offside after thrashing into the side-netting. There are surely more goals to come if this continues.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:15 , Jamie Braidwood15 mins: CHANCE! Good work from Liverpool’s Gomez as Joe bursts past Diego and tees up Ekitike. The Frenchman flashes over from the pull-back.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:14 , Jamie Braidwood14 mins: Alisson saves from Diego Gomez! The Brighton midfielder makes a clever run and is spotted by Minteh, who plays a cute reverse pass. Alisson gets out quick and spreads himself well, smothering the shot.
Two Brighton chances in quick succession.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:13 , Richard Jolly13 mins: Virgil van Dijk seems to be taking Liverpool's goal kicks. Not sure if that is to bait Brighton's press and use his long passing or indicative that Alisson has a minor problem.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:13 , Jamie Braidwood12 mins: An opportunity for Wirtz in the box but Van Hecke steps across to block.
At the other end, Minteh attempts to make amends but his low shot flashes wide of Alisson’s far post.
Brighton cut Liverpool open rather easily there.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:09 , Jamie Braidwood8 mins. After Minteh’s strange pass out of defence, Joe Gomez made a brave header to set up Ekitike, whose goal has been clocked at 46 seconds - the fastest of the season so far.
The Frenchman was ruthless in front of goal to lash Liverpool ahead.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:06 , Jamie Braidwood5 mins: It’s rapid from Hugo Ekitike, who has his sixth goal of the Premier League season. After a fast start and bit of a drought, he now has three in two starts, following his double at Leeds.
All the more important as Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah watch on from the bench.
Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
15:03 , Richard JollySurely the fastest goal of the Premier League season from Hugo Ekitike, all stemming from a strange cross-field ball by Yankuba Minteh. Joe Gomez gets an assist for heading it down to Ekitike. Meanwhile, after using a midfield diamond in Milan, Slot has switched to more of a 4-1-4-1 with Wirtz on the left.
GOALLLLL!!!!! Liverpool 1-0 Brighton (EKITIKE 1')
15:01 , Jamie BraidwoodWOW! Liverpool are ahead in seconds! Brighton have gifted the opener but Hugo Ekitike fires Liverpool ahead inside the opening minute, the fastest goal of the Premier League season so far!
KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Brighton
15:01 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd we’re underway!
Liverpool v Brighton
15:00 , Richard JollyBrighton are in a strange lilac away kit and Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak are in the tracksuit tops of substitutes. Liverpool are four unbeaten and Brighton are a team who beat them in May, just after they had become champions.
The teams are out and Salah takes his place on the bench, where a posse of photographers are there to snap Salah’s expression as he watches on before kick-off.
Liverpool v Brighton kicking off next
14:55 , Jamie BraidwoodA smiling Salah before kick-off. You would imagine it won’t stay that way if he has to watch another match from the bench...
Team news reminder
14:52 , Flo CliffordLiverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Ekitike, Gravenberch
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Gruda, Georginio, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Kadioglu, Gomez, Wieffer
Salah's last dance?
14:47 , Flo CliffordWill Slot turn to Salah today? The big question...
Salah warming up at Anfield
14:45 , Jamie BraidwoodHere he is. Salah appeared to be in good spirits as he headed out to warm up at Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s game against Brighton, in his first appearance since his stunning interview last weekend.
I wonder what the reaction from the Liverpool fans will be when Salah’s name is read out?
Match stats
14:36 , Chris WilsonLiverpool have conceded 48 goals in 35 Premier League games in 2025 – only twice before have they shipped 50+ goals in a year in the competition, doing so in 2012 (51) and 2014 (52).
The Reds haven’t scored in the opening 45 minutes in any of their last five Premier League matches, their longest run without a first half goal since between January and March 2021.
Four games in 10 days 'almost criminal', says Slot
14:23 , Flo CliffordOn the win over Inter Milan, Slot says: “Quite proud because playing four games in 10 days - that is almost criminal for football players.
“Especially if you have only 13-14 outfield players that are available. We accept playing a lot of games, but four in 10 days. That is a lot to take for players.”
Slot on Isak's 'minor' knock and Salah's presence
14:16 , Flo CliffordLiverpool boss Arne Slot doesn’t have a huge amount to say on Mohamed Salah’s presence in the squad today. He tells BBC Sport he’s happy with how conversations have gone and the position they’ve reached: “Yes, of course, otherwise I would have done [it] probably differently. Like you said, he is back in the squad and on the bench today.”
Asked about Alexander Isak’s injury, he says: “Minor. Got a knock in both games. Games come quite fast and there is also not so much to choose from. Nice to have someone from the bench who can impact the game.”
Salah back in the squad
14:02 , Flo CliffordSo, Liverpool start without Mohamed Salah for the fifth game in a row - but he at least makes it into the squad this time, and could come off the bench.
The Egyptian has himself hyped up this game as a farewell, and it certainly would be his last in a while as he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations straight after.
But will he come back to Liverpool? His inclusion in the squad suggests there has at least been some form of reconciliation between him and manager Arne Slot.
Team news - Brighton
13:58 , Flo CliffordFabian Hurzeler makes two changes from Brighton’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
De Cuyper and Welbeck drop to the bench, with Gruda and Hinselwood coming in.
Team news - Liverpool
13:52 , Flo CliffordArne Slot makes two changes from the side which beat Inter Milan in the week.
Andy Robertson and Alexander Isak drop to the bench, with Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz brought into the starting XI.
But the big news is that Mohamed Salah is back in the squad after missing out on the trip to Milan - albeit only on the bench here, as his future at Anfield remains in doubt.
Brighton line-up
13:49 , Flo CliffordBrighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Gruda, Georginio, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Kadioglu, Gomez, Wieffer
Subs: Steele, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Mitoma, Ayari, De Cuyper, Veltman
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Our starting XI to face @LFC. 👊 pic.twitter.com/0oUEQSJaqP
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 13, 2025
Salah, Isak on the bench
13:48 , Richard JollyHe is not fit to start. Though the he in question is Alexander Isak, injured again. Mo Salah is back but only on the bench as, for the fifth straight game, he is not in the Liverpool starting 11. Florian Wirtz is, though, even if the game could be defined by Salah, whether or not he comes on.
Liverpool line-up - Salah on the bench
13:46 , Flo CliffordLiverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Ekitike, Gravenberch
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky
The Reds to take on Brighton this afternoon 👊🔴 #LIVBHA
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 13, 2025
'I have no reasons to not want him to stay' - Slot on Salah rift
12:20 , Jamie BraidwoodOn whether Salah, who is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, would return to the squad ahead of a potential Anfield farewell, Slot said: "I will have a conversation with Mo this morning, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow.”
Salah has been an unused substitute for two of Liverpool’s last three games and has not started any of the last three amid Liverpool’s worst run of results in 70 years, with the star forward claiming he had “earned” his position in the team.
The Egyptian will attract interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia in January but The Independent understands Slot’s decision to leave Salah out of his plans was influenced by his upcoming departure to Afcon and Slot suggested Salah still could have a future at Anfield.
"I have no reasons to not want him to stay,” Slot said.
Good afternoon
12:00 , Chris WilsonHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield.
The Reds are looking to further ease the pressure on manager Arne Slot after a vital midweek win over Inter Milan.
Slot is under increased scrutiny as the fallout from Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview continues, and while Liverpool stayed within reach of the top eight in the Champions League league phase table with the win at the San Siro, Salah’s future remains the biggest talking point at Anfield.
The Egyptian was left out of the squad that travelled to Milan amid rumours linking him with a January move away from Anfield, and while Slot has support over the incident, things could unravel quickly if negative results continue.
And the tough fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the Reds as they welcome Brighton, with the Seagulls sitting two places above the hosts ahead of kick-off after last week’s draw with West Ham.
