Opta says Liverpool can beat Brighton even without Salah — so Gerrard’s comments shouldn’t matter.

 

 

The build-up to our clash with Brighton has focused on issues far beyond tactics.

Heading into the weekend, the Opta Analyst supercomputer gives us a 52.8% chance of winning and predicts we’ll stretch our unbeaten run to five matches.

 

That confidence reflects a team finding its rhythm again, even with all the drama surrounding Mo Salah threatening to overshadow everything. Arne Slot has stayed calm throughout, highlighted by the composed Champions League win in Milan sealed by Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty.

 

That display showed the squad remain fully behind the head coach, despite Salah dealing with the fallout from his explosive interview. The Egyptian claimed the club had “thrown him under the bus” after the Leeds draw, leading to his temporary removal from team duties.

 

The disciplinary action came as Steven Gerrard called for calm, saying Salah had made “a couple of wrong comments” and should apologise, while stressing the club still needed him.

 

Opta’s model has us winning over half of its 10,000 simulations, with Brighton at just 23%, reflecting the strong form we’ve shown without Salah. We’re unbeaten in four since he was dropped — two wins and two draws — despite some strange moments against Sunderland and Leeds.

 

That run could continue this weekend, especially with Brighton winless in December and our front line growing sharper with Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak combining well. Brighton can be dangerous, but they also allow chances, and the numbers support us edging the contest.

 

The big unresolved issue is when Salah will be reintegrated — now or after AFCON — as each game without him risks widening the rift. Mido added to that concern, saying that once trust with a manager breaks, “it’s hard to fix,” and suggesting it may be time for Salah to move on.

 

Still, the reaction in Italy showed a united dressing room focused on the results and appreciative of Slot’s clarity. We had lost six of seven with Salah starting, yet we’re unbeaten in four without him — a contrast that makes this decision even more pivotal.

 

The club is at a crossroads, and the hope is for a clean resolution so the focus can return to climbing the table. A win over Brighton would help shift the conversation back to football and get everyone pulling in the same direction again.