Salah comes on as early sub and gets an assist for Liverpool against Brighton after recall

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Mohamed Salah received a rapturous welcome from Liverpool fans after coming on as a first-half substitute against Brighton on Saturday, having returned to the squad following talks with manager Arne Slot after his explosive outburst last weekend.

The Egypt forward entered in the 26th minute, following an injury to Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, to the backdrop of the home support chanting his song. There was a big roar when Salah's name was read out.

They were singing for Salah again after he swung over a corner that was headed home by Hugo Ekitike to make it 2-0 in the 60th minute. Ekitike also scored the first goal, inside the opening minute.

Salah told reporters last weekend that his relationship with Slot had broken down after being dropped for three straight games and that he felt like “someone doesn’t want me in the club.”

He was then left at home when Liverpool traveled to Inter Milan for a Champions League match on Tuesday, with Slot saying he did not know if Salah would play again for the club.

However, a few days later, Salah was back in the squad for the Brighton game after he held conversations with Slot on Friday.

Salah was an unused substitute for the 3-3 draw with Leeds last Saturday, after which he opened up on his frustrations. Before that, he'd been an unused sub in a win at West Ham and came on at halftime of a home draw against Sunderland.

Salah is Liverpool's biggest star and also the club’s record scorer in the Premier League. He has four league goals in 13 appearances this season.

He is due to head off to the Africa Cup of Nations next week and said last week he did not know what would happen while he was away.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Carlos Baleba, left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, warms up prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah warms up prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah sits on the bench before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot applauds at the end of a Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah smiles as he takes part in a training session in Liverpool, England, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

LILLEHAMMER, Norway (AP) — Johannes Lochner keeps finding ways to beat Francesco Friedrich.

The German stars were first and second again in a World Cup bobsled race on Saturday, with Lochner driving to the win in a four-man event at Lillehammer, Norway, and Friedrich losing some time in the second and final run to settle for the silver.

It was the ninth consecutive World Cup race, going back to last season and including two-man events, in which Lochner and Friedrich finished first and second in some order.

Lochner now has beaten Friedrich — generally considered the best driver ever, someone who swept the two- and four-man golds at each of the last two Olympics, as well as each of the last two world championships — in four of five World Cup races this season and seven out of the last eight going back to last season.

Adam Ammour drove to third in the four-man race, giving Germany a sweep of the medals in that event. Kris Horn drove to 15th place for the top American finish.

In the women's monobob race earlier Saturday, Bree Walker of Australia got her fourth career World Cup win — and her third in Lillehammer. She had the best time in both heats to hold off Katrin Beierl of Austria, who finished second for her first World Cup monobob medal, and Laura Nolte of Germany was third.

Kaillie Humphries Armbruster had the top U.S. finish, placing seventh.

Bobsled: World Cup weekend in Lillehammer continues Sunday.

Skeleton: World Cup sliding continues Dec. 19 in Sigulda, Latvia.

Luge: World Cup sliding in Park City, Utah, on Saturday night, then Dec. 19 in Lake Placid, New York.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Johannes Lochner, Thorsten Margis, Joern Wenzel and Georg Fleischhauer, of Germany, compete in the 4-man bobsleigh race at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)