MOHAMED Salah set a new English Premier League goal involvements record today as he made his return for Liverpool at Anfield.
The Egypt forward got an assist as the champions defeated Brighton 2-0 thanks to a Hugo Ekitike brace.
Victory pushed the Liverpool up to sixth in the table as they extended their unbeaten run to five games following a first win at Anfield since November 4.
Attention was on Salah, who returned to the squad after he was left out for Liverpool’s midweek UEFA Champions League trip to Inter Milan following his extraordinary outburst last weekend.
Named on the bench by Arne Slot, Salah came on in the 26th minute after defender Joe Gomez was forced off with an injury and Dominik Szoboszlai slotted in at right-back.
Earlier, Gomez played his part in Liverpool’s opener as his header found Ekitike, who took one touch and volleyed past Bart Verbruggen after just 46 seconds – the quickest Premier League goal of the season so far.
Liverpool then punished Brighton for their wastefulness when Salah’s corner picked out an unmarked Ekitike at the back post and he headed his second on the hour mark.
It was the Frenchman’s 10th goal of the season and second double in as many league games after the 3-3 draw at Leeds.
Salah’s assist took him to 277 goal involvements in 302 Premier League appearances for Liverpool — the most by any player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney (276) at Manchester United.
He missed a golden opportunity, though, to score his 251st goal for the club when he blazed wide in injury time after being teed up by Federico Chiesa’s ball.
Salah waved goodbye to the Liverpool fans, with the Egyptian set to report for national team duty on Monday before the Africa Cup of Nations.
Also today in the Premier League, Cole Palmer scored his first goal since September as Chelsea ended a four-game winless run with a 2-0 victory over in-form Everton at Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old forward, still managing a groin injury that kept him out for more than two months, opened the scoring after 21 minutes in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel.
Right-back Malo Gusto, who set up Palmer’s goal, added a second just before half-time.
Everton dominated the opening 20 minutes, with Iliman Ndiaye having two shots on goal and James Garner also going close.
But the aptly nicknamed ‘Cold’ Palmer calmed Chelsea’s nerves after a poor start to December, which included defeats at Leeds and Atalanta and a draw at Bournemouth.
Played in behind Everton’s defence by Gusto, Palmer took a touch before sending goalkeeper Jordan Pickford the wrong way with a finish into the near post.
Alejandro Garnacho missed several chances, including shooting wide for an open goal after capitalising on substitute Carlos Alcaraz’s poor back pass, moments after injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came off with an injury against his former club.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Everton’s Jack Grealish also had opportunities before the home side doubled their lead just before the break, with Gusto reacting quickest to turn in Pedro Neto’s cross.
Superior finishing proved decisive for Chelsea, who consolidated fourth place in the Premier League, while Everton remain eighth having played a game more than most of their rivals.
With agency reports