Liverpool Confirms Mohamed Salah's Starting Spot in Official Team Lineup

Mohamed Salah found himself on the Liverpool substitutes bench once again for the fourth consecutive Premier League match, despite reportedly resolving his differences with head coach Arne Slot.

The Egyptian forward unexpectedly criticized both the club and his manager following his complete absence from Liverpool's 3–3 stalemate against Leeds United the previous Saturday, which led to his exclusion from the squad entirely for the midweek Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

Following Slot's confirmation that he would hold crucial discussions with Salah on Friday to resolve their differences, it was announced that the winger would be included in the matchday squad for Brighton & Hove Albion's visit to Anfield.

However, when the team sheets were revealed approximately 75 minutes before kickoff, Salah was once more listed among the nine substitutes—joined by £125 million British record transfer Alexander Isak, who has experienced an unexpectedly challenging beginning to his Anfield career.

Liverpool's Starting Lineup to Face Brighton

Slot Changes Formation After Midweek Tinkering

Salah's continued exclusion from the starting eleven will undoubtedly fuel additional speculation regarding his Liverpool future. The 33-year-old indicated in his candid remarks last weekend that his relationship with Slot had deteriorated completely, expressing bewilderment at being sidelined despite his contributions to the club.

In a broader criticism of Liverpool, Salah claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" and made a scapegoat amid an unexpected sequence of poor performances.

During the Inter Milan fixture, with Salah completely absent from the squad, Slot decided to abandon the established 4-3-3 system at Anfield, implementing a compact diamond midfield formation that enabled Isak and Hugo Ekitiké to partner in attack. However, it proved another difficult evening for the Swedish striker, whose sole Premier League goal for Liverpool came in the recent 2–0 victory at West Ham United.

For Brighton's journey to Merseyside, Florian Wirtz was brought back into the starting lineup in Isak's place, presumably as an inverted left winger operating opposite the adaptable Dominik Szoboszlai—the Hungarian, who scored the decisive goal against Inter and netted Liverpool's third against Leeds, was assigned Salah's usual duties.

Slot also reintroduced another summer acquisition, Milos Kerkez, to the team, replacing the experienced Andy Robertson.