Richard Keys has admitted he must “choose his words carefully” after directing criticism at Mohamed Salah following Liverpool’s victory.

 

 

Mohamed Salah earned widespread praise for his display against Brighton — though not everyone was sold.

 

Liverpool’s recent upturn in form has led some to suggest it coincided with Salah being left out, but the Egyptian featured for most of the clash with Brighton and underlined his ongoing value. He delivered a strong all-round performance and capped it off with an assist, reminding many that he still has plenty to offer.

 

Richard Keys, however, remained unconvinced. The former Sky Sports presenter offered a blunt assessment on beIN SPORTS, acknowledging some realities while still drawing criticism for his tone.

 

Keys argued that as players grow older, you sometimes look for different qualities from them, before claiming Salah is essentially a “one-trick pony” — a wide player whose role and impact are fixed. He suggested Salah cannot be reshaped into a central figure and hinted that his best years may be behind him.

 

While Keys is correct that Salah will always be most effective from wide areas, it’s hard to ignore what that so-called “one trick” has produced over the past eight seasons. Time and again, Salah has been written off, only to respond in emphatic fashion.

 

After feeling overlooked during a recent dip in form, Salah clearly had a point to prove against the Seagulls — and the Anfield crowd loved what they saw from the 33-year-old.

 

This pattern is nothing new. Once dismissed as a “one-season wonder,” Salah has repeatedly shattered that narrative, season after season.

 

Now, attention turns to AFCON. Salah heads into the tournament with renewed hunger, chasing his first major international trophy with Egypt — and possibly one of his final chances to do so. Jamie Carragher has already highlighted that missing honour, a reminder that will only add extra fuel as Salah once again sets out to silence the doubters.