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Anfield has seen goals, trophies, and legends â but on Saturday night, it witnessed something rarer: pure footballing class.
Liverpoolâs 2â0 victory over Brighton was already wrapped up before the final whistle, yet the most talked-about moment didnât come from the scoreboard. It came after the game â and it left fans speechless.
Despite scoring both goals that sealed the win, Hugo Ekitike made a decision no one saw coming.
He gave his Man of the Match award away.
Not to a defender.
Not to a midfielder.
But to Mohamed Salah.
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Moments after full-time, while celebrations were still ongoing, Ekitike delivered a statement that instantly shifted the spotlight.
> âI handed the award back,â he admitted. âI scored twice, yes â but he was the real difference. The vote got it wrong.â
In a sport where individual honours are fiercely protected, the Liverpool forward chose honesty over headlines. And the message was clear: goals donât always tell the full story.
According to Ekitike, Salah wasnât just involved â he ran the entire game.
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Salah didnât score.
He didnât celebrate wildly.
But he controlled everything.
From the right flank, the Egyptian dictated tempo, pulled defenders out of shape, and created chaos Brighton simply couldnât handle.
What Salah did brilliantly:
Constantly dragged two defenders away from danger zones
Opened central spaces that led directly to both goals
Progressed the ball relentlessly into the final third
Led Liverpoolâs press from the front for 90 minutes
Orchestrated attacks without forcing the spotlight
Brightonâs defensive plan revolved around stopping him â and that decision cost them dearly.
This wasnât a silent performance.
It was a dominant one.
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Ekitike didnât hesitate when pressed further.
âThis game wasnât about structure or defence,â he explained. âOne player made everything work.â
By ruling out others, the message hit harder: Salahâs influence went beyond stats. It was about intelligence, leadership, and authority â the kind that lifts everyone around you.
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Under Arne Slot, Liverpoolâs system has evolved â but one truth remains unchanged:
 Everything still flows through Mohamed Salah.
Slotâs setup allows Salah to:
Drift inside freely
Attract pressure to release teammates
Trigger aggressive overlaps on the right
Create space for central attackers
Brighton focused on stopping him.
Liverpool punished them elsewhere.
Textbook execution.
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 Ekitikeâs Gesture Wins the Dressing Room
Scoring twice wouldâve been enough.
But giving up the award? Thatâs leadership.
Former players and pundits were quick to praise the act, calling it a defining moment of maturity.
One former Liverpool captain summed it up perfectly:
> âThatâs real leadership â understanding influence matters as much as goals.â
Inside the squad, the gesture reportedly strengthened unity â especially with Salahâs future constantly under the microscope.
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 Salahâs Quiet, Powerful Response
Salah didnât make it about himself.
No speeches.
No drama.
Instead, he thanked Ekitike privately and reminded teammates of one thing:
> âWhat matters is that we win together.â
Those close to the club say the moment meant more than words could show â particularly amid ongoing conversations about legacy, respect, and recognition.
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 Fans React: âThis Is Why Salah Is Differentâ
Social media erupted.
Supporters praised:
Salahâs consistency year after year
His selfless influence on games
Ekitikeâs humility and honesty
Many described the moment as âone of the classiest scenes Anfield has seen in years.â
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 What This Moment Really Says About Liverpool
This wasnât just about an award.
It revealed:
A united dressing room
Mutual respect between stars
A squad fully aligned with Slotâs vision
And a shared acknowledgment of Salahâs enduring greatness
As Liverpool chase bigger goals this season, moments like this define champions.
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 Final Word
Hugo Ekitike scored the goals â but his most powerful contribution came when the cameras were off.
By returning the Man of the Match award to Mohamed Salah, he reminded the football world that true greatness is rooted in humility and truth.
At Anfield, football class was on full display.
And once again, Mohamed Salah proved that you donât need a goal to own the gameÂ
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