MOMENT OF TRUTH

Salah returns to Liverpool - and for the Anfield faithful it's as if he's never been away

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THEY gave the outstanding Hugo Ekitike the rapturous acclaim he was due but soon turned their attention to a substitute who has not been able to get a game for a while.

He had only swung over a standard corner-kick and the Brighton defence and Ekitike's head had done the rest, but Mohamed Salah still felt moved to point triumphantly towards the Kop.

And the Kop's response told you, noisily and emphatically, that - contrary to the opinions of many a pundit, former player and phone-in character - Salah has lost no respect with the match-going Liverpool fans.

If those supporters believed Salah had undermined the club, the manager and even his teammates, they did one hell of a job of pretending otherwise.

Anyone at Anfield for this victory would think Salah is still idolised, anyone would think Liverpool fans are not going to demonise one of their greatest-ever players for an ill-advised post-match interview.

Anyone would think these supporters laugh at the idea that Salah has tainted his legacy.