Liverpool's Mohamed Salah came off the bench against Brighton (Paul ELLIS)
Mohamed Salah came off the bench in the first half of Liverpool's match against Brighton on Saturday, a week after he made explosive comments about the club and manager Arne Slot.
The Egypt forward was introduced to loud cheers in the 26th minute after defender Joe Gomez was forced off injured.
The home team were leading 1-0 at Anfield after Hugo EkitikeΒ scored in the first minute.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for last week's 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he did not start.
He also said he had no relationship with Slot when he spoke to reporters after the match at Elland Road.Β
He was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.
Slot said at Friday's pre-match press conference that he would speak to the forward later in the day.
"I have no reasons not wanting him to stay," he said.
Salah,Β who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, is due to join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations after the Brighton match.
The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final taking place on January 18.
Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.
He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title but has managed just four league goals this season.
Liverpool started their match against Brighton 10th in the table after a shocking run.
Senegal star Sadio Mane listens to the national anthem of Mauritania before a 2026 World Cup qualifier. (Patrick Meinhardt)
The highlight of Group D at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco promises to be the showdown between two former champions, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Β
They met just two months ago in a World Cup qualifier with the Senegalese coming from two goals behind to snatch a 3-2 victory through a Pape Matar Sarr goal.Β
Victory led to Senegal qualifying for a third straight World Cup while DR Congo will face Jamaica or New Caledonia in March with a ticket to the global showcase on the line. Β
While DR Congo hope to atone for the Kinshasa loss, the stage is set for a cameo to relish on December 27 in Tangier between Senegal striker Sadio Mane and DR Congo centre-back Chancel Mbemba. Β Β
Mane may be less in the media limelight since exchanging Liverpool and Bayern Munich for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr two years ago.
But last month in Turkey he issued a reminder that his predatory instincts remain, scoring a hat-trick as Senegal crushed Kenya 8-0 in a warm-up for the AFCON.
Mane has already scaled the African football summit, converting the decisive penalty to give the Teranga Lions a shootout victory over Egypt in the 2022 final in Yaounde.
Three years earlier, Mane featured in another AFCON final. However, he had to settle for a silver medal as an early goal from Algeria proved the only one of the title decider in Cairo.
Senegal disappointed at the most recent AFCON, early last year in the Ivory Coast. After winning all three group matches they lost on penalties to the host nation in a last-16 clash.Β
Long-serving coach Aliou Cisse did not have his contract renewed and another former national team star, Pape Thiaw, has proved a successful replacement. Β Β Β
- Crucial contributions -
A friendly loss to record five-time World Cup champions Brazil last month was his first setback after 10 victories and two draws. Trouncing Kenya three days later upped the win count.
Mbemba recently celebrated representing his country 100 times with two crucial contributions as DR Congo seek a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.Β
In African play-offs among the best four group runners-up, Mbemba snatched the late goal that sank Cameroon 1-0 in a semi-final in Morocco.
When the final against Nigeria finished 1-1 after extra time in Rabat, a shootout ensued and the penalty that separated the teams was calmly converted by Mbemba. Β
The professional career of the 31-year-old began in Belgium with Anderlecht. He then had spells with Newcastle United, Porto and Marseille before joining Lille.Β
While 33-year-old Mane hopes to add to his 51 goals for Senegal, Mbemba will be determined to shackle the two-time African player of the year.
Much of the credit for the resurgence of DR Congo goes to French coach Sebastien Desabre, a 49-year-old whose first African assignment was with Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas.
He then coached clubs in Cameroon, Tunisia, Angola, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt, and spent two years in charge of Uganda, taking them to an AFCON for the first time in 41 years. Β Β
"Our first objective is to get out of Group D. Benin, Botswana and Senegal are strong teams. It will not be easy," Desabre told the Congolese media.Β
"Qualifying for the World Cup intercontinental play-offs by eliminating Cameroon and Nigeria proved we are progressing. Β
"I predict a bright future for the Leopards, provided we continue learning. Eliminating Nigeria was fantastic, but that result is history now."Β
Benin have shown consistent improvement under German Gernot Rohr, who previously coached Gabon, Niger and Nigeria at AFCONs. They will be captained by veteran striker Steve Mounie.
Coached by South African Morena Ramoreboli, Botswana are the lowest ranked of the 24 participants. They lost all three matches in their AFCON debut 13 years ago and will do well to avoid a similar fate.
Nigeria star Victor Osimhen (L) in action against Angola in a 2024 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final (FRANCK FIFE)
Forwards and former CAF player of the year award winners Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman headline the 28-man Nigeria squad named on Thursday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Super Eagles open their Group C campaign on December 23 against Tanzania, then face Tunisia four days later and Uganda on December 30.
Group winners and runners-up qualify automatically for the knockout stage, and the best four third-placed teams from six mini-leagues also advance to the round of 16.
Nigeria and Tunisia are favoured to occupy the top two places, with the east African sides battling for third spot and possible survival. Β Β
Turkey-based Osimhen was voted the outstanding African player in 2023 and Lookman from Italian outfit Atalanta succeeded him. Morocco captain and defender Achraf Hakimi topped the poll this year.
Nigeria are blessed with so much forward talent that Ivory Coast-born coach Eric Chelle has chosen nine. Three goalkeepers, eight defenders and eight midfielders complete the squad.Β
A forward who did not make it, however, was Victor Boniface from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. Recent Wolverhampton Wanderers signing Tolu Arokodare also misses out.
Premier League club Fulham supply three of the squad -- centre-back Calvin Bassey, midfielder Alex Iwobi and on-loan striker Samuel Chukwueze.
Chukwueze, on loan from AC Milan with the Cottagers having an option to make the deal permanent, scored twice in a recent 5-4 loss to Manchester City.
Chelle included currently injured first choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from South African Premiership side Chippa United.Β
Nigeria have won the AFCON three times, most recently when they edged Burkina Faso 1-0 in the 2013 final in Johannesburg. Last year, they were runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast.
They will face fellow AFCON title contenders Egypt in a warm-up match in Cairo on December 16, then fly to Fes, the Moroccan city where they will play all their first round matches.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd/RSA), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars/TAN), Francis Uzoho (Omonia/CYP)
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