LONDON — Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk hailed Mohamed Salah’s value after the 2-0 victory over Brighton in the English Premier League, expressing hope that the Egyptian will stay at Anfield following the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah returned to Liverpool’s squad following a turbulent week after the forward’s scathing criticism of the club raised uncertainty over his future on Merseyside.
The 33-year-old replaced the injured Joe Gomez in the 26th minute to the delight of fans who welcomed him with a standing ovation and made an assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second goal.
“Mo is going to AFCON and we all hope he’ll be successful there and he’ll come back and be important for us for the rest of the season,” Van Dijk said.
“The other side of it is that we all know football and we have no idea what is going to happen.
“I hope that he stays because he is one of my leaders and still very important for the football club.
“But there’s more parties to this situation,” Van Dijk added according to Reuters.
Salah had accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” and claimed his relationship with Slot had broken down in a fiery outburst after last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United.
He will now join Egypt’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs until January 18 in Morrocco.
Liverpool next will visit Tottenham Hotspur on December 20.
Salah returned to the field after a four-match hiatus, and his comeback was anything but ordinary—it was historic. In the 16th round of the English Premier League, Liverpool defeated Brighton 2-0 at home, with the Egyptian star entering the match as a substitute in the 26th minute.
The Egypt international surpassed Wayne Rooney to become the player with the most goal contributions for a single club in Premier League history, delivering the perfect response to a week of turmoil at Anfield.
After coming on, the 33-year-old revitalised the team’s attacks. During the match, he provided one assist, playing a crucial role in securing the victory. Most importantly, this assist became a historic milestone for Salah.
With this contribution, Salah set a new Premier League record for goal involvements by a player at a single club. The Liverpool forward has now amassed 277 goals and assists in 302 league appearances, surpassing Rooney’s previous mark of 276 for Manchester United.
It is worth noting that Salah joined the Reds in the summer of 2017. Since then, he has scored 188 goals and provided 89 decisive assists in the English championship. These achievements have made him one of the most prolific players in Liverpool’s history.
The Egyptian forward once again demonstrated his impact on the team’s game every time he steps onto the pitch. Breaking a record even as a substitute highlights Salah’s status as a top-tier footballer. Fans are celebrating his new historic achievements with great joy.
“Mohamed is a great, great professional,” France forward Hugo Ekitike said to BBC Match of the Day. “I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in goals and assists. He is a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing. That’s the kind of player who makes us like to watch football.”
