These were the last words he said…

A resurgent Mo Salah inspires Liverpool to a 3-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield as Slot looks to get Liverpool firing again.

The opening quarter of an hour held a familiar theme to it as Brighton moved the ball around nicely and Liverpool waited patiently to take a foot hold in the game. It’s something that has frustrated supporters in recent weeks and months as Liverpool have stuttered through the campaign up to now, never really getting a grip of the situation.

They appeared to be moving away from their recent troubles however with a convincing victory over the Seagulls this weekend. The scoring was opened by Curtis Jones who was deputising at right back whilst Liverpool battle ongoing fitness issues in that area of the pitch. Jones struck 3 minutes before half time, firing home from a pinpoint Milos Kerkez cross. It wasn’t long after half time when Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool well in control on 56 minutes with a fine strike after being teed up by Mo Salah. Such was the execution of the assist from the Egyptian King his team mate Szoboslai didn’t even have to break stride before smashing his 10th goal of the season home. A fine return so far from midfield coupled with the 7 assists he has notched in 35 games. Salah then rounded his own performance off on 68 minutes by beating two Brighton players and winning a penalty before firing the subsequent spot kick into the back of the net in front of the Kop. It can’t go unsaid that the fashion in which Salah beat Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Pascal Groß, showing both strength and skill in equal measure, before winning the spot kick was reflective of the Salah from last season and all those before it in the red of Liverpool.

There were moments during the contest where Liverpool could’ve been pegged back however. Before the interval Diego Gómez went close after Curtis Jones was unfortunate to lose his footing. Virgil Van Dijk made up enough ground to put the Brighton attacker under enough pressure that he slightly hurried the shot before Alisson kept it out. There was also a moment in the 2nd half when Alisson expertly kept out another Albion attempt before Konate cleared with his head. Liverpool still remain hopeful they’ll be able to tie the latter down to a new deal despite the Frenchman having less than six months on his current contract.

Another of Liverpool’s stand out performers was Milos Kerkez. The Hungarian international was full of energy throughout and came close to getting on the score sheet with a sublime strike that was finely saved by Albion keeper Jason Steele. Kerkez defended expertly throughout, thwarting any potential danger that Brighton tried to muster down their right hand side whilst also providing what seemed like an ever lasting engine down Liverpool’s left. The ex Bournemouth man has started to come into his own these last few weeks and is proving to be someone who is stepping up in a red shirt. A worthy winner of the club’s fan poll man of the match.

Slot will now assess his options before lining the Reds up to take on managerless Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.