Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (AFP)

18:04-13 December 2025 AD ـ 23 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1447 AH

Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.

The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes' bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.

The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.

Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored his second with half an hour to go, heading home Salah's corner.

The Egyptian superstar now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League -- 188 goals and 89 assists -- a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's mark for Manchester United.

"Mohamed is a great, great professional," Ekitike told the BBC. "I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in goals and assists.

"He is a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing. That's the kind of player who makes us like to watch football."

Saturday marked a dramatic change of mood for Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.

The 33-year-old winger also said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot in his extraordinary outburst and was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.

Slot said at his pre-match press conference that he would hold talks with Salah and there was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday's match about what role the Egyptian would play.

Liverpool made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.

Brighton's Diego Gomez squandered a good chance and Brajan Gruda went close as the home crowd chanted Salah's name.

Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike headed home Salah's corner.

The Egyptian himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.

He was embraced by teammates at the final whistle and was applauded by fans.

The win -- Liverpool's first at Anfield since November 4 -- lifts Slot's men to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered coach.

- Salah departure -

Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.

The forward had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.

"I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup," he told reporters last week. "I don't know what is going to happen when I am there."

Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.

He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.

Egypt’s Hassan Enjoying Spotlight After Journeyman Coaching Career

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reacts after winning a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP)

17:52-6 July 2026 AD ـ 21 Muharram 1448 AH

Egypt’s Hassan Enjoying Spotlight After Journeyman Coaching Career

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reacts after winning a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP)

Hossam Hassan’s coaching career has not come close to emulating his record-breaking playing days, but the fiery Egyptian could well change that on Tuesday if his team upset Argentina at the World Cup.

Hassan was a prolific striker for Egypt, still holding the record for the most goals and at one stage being the world’s most capped international. He played at the 1990 World Cup, won the last of his three Africa Cup of Nations aged 39 and earned multiple medals in continental and Egyptian club football.

He has had a controversial coaching career, however, with ‌a high turnover ‌of jobs and a prickly relationship with supporters and the ‌press.

Famously ⁠quick to lose ⁠his temper, there have been many altercations, most recently at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco when the crowd were getting on his back and he responded with dismissive gestures. But guiding Egypt to their first World Cup win in their fourth tournament appearance since their first in 1934, when they beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver, and securing a last-32 win over Australia in Dallas has placed him now on a positive pedestal.

Hassan would have been ⁠forgiven a satisfied smirk when Egyptian journalists greeted his entry into ‌the post-match press conference with a hearty round of ‌applause and preceded their questions with congratulations and fawning praise.

Hassan, however, politely thanked them and responded in ‌depth to each enquiry, detailing his battle plans and unwavering belief that his team ‌would triumph.

FIERY OUTBURST

It contrasted with a fiery outburst after Senegal beat Egypt in the Cup of Nations semi-finals in January.

"Egypt is great. It is the mother of Arabs and Africa, with our history, number of championships and strength. Some are jealous of our winning seven Cup of Nations and ‌wanted us not to qualify for the final match," he asserted then, before being roundly told off on Egyptian television by ⁠pundits, who rejected any ⁠conspiracy theory.

Many felt Hassan, whose identical twin brother Ibrahim sits alongside him on the bench, was an odd choice for the Egypt job two years ago, given a journeyman coaching career without any highlights, plus numerous fiery incidents.

But while Hassan has proven surprisingly defensive in his tactics with the national team, there can be no arguing he has achieved results. Egypt were semi-finalists at the last Cup of Nations in Morocco and went through their World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten.

“My genes do not accept defeat,” he declared on the eve of the World Cup.

At the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the US, Egypt held Belgium to a draw, finished runners-up in their group and after edging Australia, now have a chance for their greatest win, against holders Argentina.

Sports

England’s Adaptability Shines in Mexico, Now Haaland Threat Looms

(From L) England's forward #18 Anthony Gordon, midfielder #08 Elliot Anderson, defender #24 Reece James, midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham and forward #09 Harry Kane celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Mexico and England at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on July 5, 2026. (AFP)

17:38-6 July 2026 AD ـ 21 Muharram 1448 AH

England’s Adaptability Shines in Mexico, Now Haaland Threat Looms

England left the Estadio Azteca with aching legs, frayed nerves and a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

They also left with something potentially more valuable: proof they can survive when matches stop following the script.

For all the talk before the tournament of talent, depth and Thomas Tuchel's tactical nous, England had not faced a truly defining moment. Mexico provided that on Sunday night.

In one of football's most intimidating arenas, at altitude and against co-hosts roared on by around 80,000 supporters, England were forced to play more than half an hour with 10 men after Jarell Quansah's red card. Yet they emerged with a 3-2 victory built on Jude Bellingham's brilliance, Harry Kane's leadership and a collective refusal to yield.

England's performance was not flawless. Mexico dominated for spells, twice cut the deficit to a single goal and bombarded the penalty area during a frantic finish. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had a standout game, and every England player spent the closing stages throwing themselves at crosses and ‌shots.

But World Cups ‌are rarely won through perfection. More often they are won by teams capable of surviving difficult ‌nights.

What ⁠should encourage Tuchel ⁠most is that the result was built on adaptability rather than dominance.

Recognizing the challenges posed by the conditions in Mexico City, England dialed back their usual aggressive pressing game and adopted a more measured approach.

"We are fully committed to our press. But it's not economical. We need to be smart and pick the right moments," Tuchel said.

For long periods they defended in a compact mid-block, content to protect space and conserve energy rather than chase the ball relentlessly. That tactical adjustment reflected a willingness to sacrifice style for substance.

The breakthrough came through the type of transition football that Tuchel had planned for. Declan Rice drove forward from midfield before finding Bukayo Saka, whose cross was met by the arriving Bellingham.

Barely 100 ⁠seconds later, Elliot Anderson won possession from the restart and England struck again.

Those moments illustrated England ‌at their most dangerous: compact without the ball, then direct and ruthless once possession ‌was recovered.

Bellingham once again underlined why he is emerging as one of the players of the tournament. His quickfire double transformed the atmosphere inside the ‌stadium and shifted the momentum decisively towards England.

Kane extended his scoring streak, while Anthony Gordon's pace and energy provided a crucial ‌outlet whenever Mexico threatened to overwhelm them. Yet if the victory answered questions about England's mentality, it also exposed issues Norway will have noted carefully.

Hit by injuries at the back, England have looked vulnerable throughout the tournament, and Mexico repeatedly found opportunities in the spaces around the full-backs.

Quansah red-card tackle came after England had been caught out with players committed forward

Norway possess different qualities to Mexico but potentially greater firepower. Having stunned Brazil to reach the ‌quarter-finals, the Scandinavians arrive in Miami for Saturday's quarter-final full of confidence and carrying perhaps the tournament's most dangerous striker.

Any defensive frailties England displayed against Mexico could be ruthlessly exposed by ⁠Erling Haaland, while Martin Odegaard's passing ⁠range gives Norway the creativity to find him.

At the same time, England may take confidence from the way they adapted after Quansah's dismissal.

Rather than retreat entirely, they continued to look for opportunities on the counterattack. Gordon stretched Mexico repeatedly and won the penalty that allowed Kane to restore England's two-goal cushion.

Later, Tuchel altered the shape again, introducing 6-foot-7 (1.98-meter) defender Dan Burn and switching to a back five as England repelled Mexico's aerial assault.

That tactical flexibility may prove one of England's greatest strengths as the tournament enters its decisive stage.

The challenge now is ensuring Sunday's victory does not come at too high a cost. Bellingham dropped to his knees at the final whistle, lungs heaving after battling the altitude, the conditions and relentless Mexican pressure.

Kane had lost his voice by the time the interviews began. The celebrations reflected the scale of the achievement, but veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson paid a price. He was taken to hospital with a wrist injury after falling over advertising boarding, and the injury may rule the 36-year-old out for the tournament, even if his influence has been more on the sidelines as one of the squad's senior voices.

The victory over Mexico will nevertheless rank among England's most memorable World Cup knockout performances of the modern era — the sort of result that can transform belief inside a squad.

Now England must show it was more than one extraordinary night. Mexico tested their resilience. Norway will test their ambitions.

Sports

Belgian Federation to Challenge FIFA Decision to Let Balogun Play in World Cup Match

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - United States v Bosnia and Herzegovina - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, US - July 1, 2026 Folarin Balogun of the US is shown a red card by referee Raphael Claus. (Reuters)

17:09-6 July 2026 AD ـ 21 Muharram 1448 AH

Belgian Federation to Challenge FIFA Decision to Let Balogun Play in World Cup Match

The Belgian soccer federation wants an explanation from FIFA about a decision to let US forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game.

Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Belgian federation (RBFA) said it has still not received either “FIFA’s decision or any explanation regarding this matter. In these circumstances, it has no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”

It did not specify where it intends to appeal FIFA’s decision.

US President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of Balogun, whose red-card suspension was lifted in a decision that allowed him to play against Belgium.

The Belgian federation said it learned through media reports about the FIFA's move and sent a letter to the governing body requesting a copy of the decision as well as an explanation of the process.

“As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal,” it said. “No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA.

The RBFA insisted that FIFA’s regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant.

“While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible,” it said. “All of this occurred while FIFA simultaneously refused to respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests.”

Balogun, the star forward for the US with three goals in the tournament, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.

FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted for the round of 16 match, an extraordinary move that triggered praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team. It appeared to be the first time since 1962 that a red card during a World Cup didn’t result in a suspension.

“Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defense of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole,” the Belgian federation added.

The FIFA decision drew criticism from the European Commission, the powerful executive arm of the European Union, which is based in Brussels.

Glenn Micallef, the European Union’s commissioner for sport, said that decisions “on sporting rules and sporting matters belong to sporting bodies, not politicians.”

“Influencing sporting decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport,” he wrote in a message on X. “Our focus should instead be on the real governance challenges facing sport, including the weaponization of sport for political purposes.”

Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

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Egypt’s Hassan Enjoying Spotlight After Journeyman Coaching Career

Egypt’s Hassan Enjoying Spotlight After Journeyman Coaching Career

England’s Adaptability Shines in Mexico, Now Haaland Threat Looms

England’s Adaptability Shines in Mexico, Now Haaland Threat Looms

Belgian Federation to Challenge FIFA Decision to Let Balogun Play in World Cup Match

Belgian Federation to Challenge FIFA Decision to Let Balogun Play in World Cup Match

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