Ek's marked the spot

LETHAL HUGO TAKES CENTRE STAGE DURING SALAH CIRCUS

- CARL MARKHAM

HUGO EKITIKE scored both goals including the fastest of the Premier League season - as Mo Salah made an earlier-than-expected return.

Cameramen barely had time to shift their focus off Salah, back in the squad after being dropped for his explosive comments about being "thrown under the bus" by the club, when Ekitike struck after just 46 seconds.

Salah held talks with Arne Slot on Friday after his midweek Champions League omission and would have expected to wait until the second half for a chance to redeem himself - at least in most observers' eyes. But Joe Gomez's injury released him from the bench midway through the first half.

It was not the change Slot wanted to make with the game still evenly poised but one he could not avoid without creating more headlines.

However, set-piece coach Aaron Briggs gave the instructions as Slot was in conversation with Dominik Szoboszlai, his new right-back.