Ekitike double and Salah cameo help quieten chaos for Slot as Liverpool move up to sixth

For Liverpool, this match against Brighton felt like much more than just another Premier League fixture. It felt like a test of belief, a test of nerve, and perhaps most importantly, a test of whether Arne Slot’s Liverpool were finally ready to turn noise, chaos, and uncertainty into something solid. Coming into the game, the Reds were unbeaten in four matches, but even that run felt fragile. It felt like something that could snap at any moment. Only back-to-back wins would truly convince players, fans, and critics alike that a corner had been turned. By the final whistle at Anfield, Liverpool had their answer.

This was not a perfect performance, and it was not a quiet evening either, but it was effective, controlled when it needed to be, and symbolic in many ways. A Hugo Ekitike double delivered the points. A Mohamed Salah cameo delivered calm. And Arne Slot delivered something even more valuable than tactics or substitutions. He delivered belief.

Liverpool started the game knowing exactly what was required. Brighton are never an easy opponent. They are organised, brave on the ball, and always ready to punish hesitation. But Liverpool did not hesitate. They exploded into life from the very first moment. Before many fans had even settled into their seats, the ball was in the net. Forty-six seconds. That was all it took.

The goal came in a way that summed up Liverpool’s intent. Direct, sharp, ruthless. Joe Gomez rose to meet a ball and guided a controlled header into the danger area. Hugo Ekitike reacted faster than anyone else. He did not hesitate. He did not overthink. He simply smashed the ball home from close range. Anfield erupted. Relief mixed with excitement. The kind of release that only comes when tension has been building for weeks.

For Arne Slot, that early goal felt like oxygen. Confidence has been Liverpool’s biggest issue this season. When things go wrong, they tend to unravel quickly. When things go right, they still look over their shoulders, waiting for something bad to happen. Scoring early allowed them to breathe. It allowed them to play.

But Brighton did not fold. They responded with courage and quality. Diego Gomez found himself through on goal after a clever ball in behind from Yankuba Minteh. For a brief moment, Anfield held its breath. Alisson Becker, once again, proved why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He stood tall, stayed calm, and produced a fine one-on-one save to deny Brighton an equaliser. It was a reminder that Liverpool still rely heavily on their goalkeeper when things get uncomfortable.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. The moment that dominated headlines before the match even kicked off. Mohamed Salah, previously exiled, previously sidelined, previously the centre of endless debate, made his return. Not as a starter. Not as the hero riding in at kickoff. But quietly, replacing the injured Joe Gomez. It felt symbolic. No drama. No announcement. Just Salah stepping back onto the pitch.

The reaction from the crowd was loud, but complicated. Applause mixed with curiosity. Support mixed with uncertainty. Nobody quite knew what this meant. Was this a goodbye? A reset? A temporary truce? For now, it did not matter. Salah was back, and Liverpool needed him.

From the moment he came on, Salah looked sharp. He was involved. He demanded the ball. He linked play. He brought calm to Liverpool’s attacking movements. Suddenly, passes were crisper. Movements were smarter. Brighton had to adjust. And as Liverpool began to settle, they started to look like a team that knew what it was doing.

Before half-time, Liverpool created the best chances of the match. The ball moved quickly. Players trusted each other. The tempo felt right. It was not spectacular, but it was controlled. And in a season filled with uncertainty, control felt like progress.

Brighton came out for the second half determined to respond. They knew the game was still within reach. And for a brief period, they caused Liverpool problems. A low cross from Mats Wieffer found Gomez sliding in at the far post. The ball struck the woodwork. Another moment of danger. Another reminder that Liverpool were not safe yet.

Soon after, Brajan Gruda found space on the left side of the area. His shot drifted agonisingly wide. Anfield exhaled again. The margin was still thin. The confidence still fragile.

But football has a way of following a script, especially when drama has been brewing all week. The narrative of Mohamed Salah could not be ignored forever. And just after the hour mark, he delivered his response.

Brighton failed to defend a corner properly. Their marking was poor. Their awareness slipped. Salah saw the opportunity instantly. With intelligence and composure, he delivered a perfect ball to the back post. Hugo Ekitike was waiting. He rose above everyone else and headed the ball into the net. Two goals. Game changed. Anfield erupted again.

For Ekitike, it was a statement. A reminder that he was not just a supporting act. He was leading the line. He was delivering when Liverpool needed him most. For Salah, it was something else entirely. It was proof of relevance. Proof of value. Proof that even amid chaos, he remains decisive.

From that moment, Liverpool were in control. Brighton pushed forward, desperate to get back into the game. They introduced fresh legs. They took risks. But their final ball was lacking. Their composure deserted them at key moments. Kaoru Mitoma had a chance inside the box but poked the ball wide. It summed up Brighton’s night. Promising moments, no reward.

As the clock ticked down, Liverpool looked comfortable. Not dominant. Not flawless. But comfortable. Salah even had a chance to score himself, blasting over the bar. It would have been a poetic ending, but it was not meant to be. Still, his influence was clear. His presence alone changed the mood, the rhythm, and the confidence of the team.

When the final whistle blew, Anfield felt different. Not euphoric. Not triumphant. But calmer. More hopeful. Liverpool had won back-to-back matches. They had climbed to sixth in the table. And for the first time in a while, it felt like the squad’s expensive assembly might finally be turning into something functional.

Arne Slot will know that this win does not solve everything. Liverpool are still fragile. Their confidence can still waver. Their performances can still dip. But this felt like a step. A signal. A message to themselves as much as anyone else.

Hugo Ekitike’s performance stood out. Two goals. Constant movement. Confidence growing with every touch. He looked like a striker who believes he belongs. A striker who can carry responsibility. A striker who might just be the missing piece in Slot’s system.

Mohamed Salah’s cameo was equally important. Not for goals, but for stability. For calm. For reassurance. His future remains uncertain. His absence for AFCON looms. The noise will return. But for one evening, Liverpool parked the chaos. They focused on football. And football rewarded them.

The league table still does not tell the full story. Sixth place is not where Liverpool want to be. But it is closer. And sometimes, progress is not about perfection. Sometimes, it is about survival. About momentum. About belief.

This match was not just about three points. It was about confidence. It was about reassurance. It was about a team reminding itself that it can still win, still control games, still respond to pressure. The potential of this squad has never been in doubt. What has been missing is delivery. On this night, delivery arrived.

Whether this marks the beginning of something bigger remains to be seen. The season is long. Challenges remain. But for now, Liverpool move forward. And for Arne Slot, that may be enough.