It should all have been about the brilliance of Hugo boss... but Salah is still the King of the Kop

THEY gave 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.

- ANDY DUNN

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, ex-player and phone-in character - Salah has lost no respect among the match-going Liverpool fans.

If those fans 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 Salah has tainted his legacy.

Not that they are taking sides in what many perceive to be a manager-player dispute - it is just that they recognise Liverpool are a more dangerous, attacking side with Salah in the ranks.