They gave the outstanding Hugo Ekitike the rapturous acclaim he was due but soon turned their attention to a substitute who has not been able to get a game for a while.

He had only swung over a standard corner and the Brighton defence and Ekitike’s head had done the rest, but Mohamed Salah still felt moved to point triumphantly towards the Kop.

And the Kop’s response told you, noisily and emphatically, that - contrary to the opinions of many a pundit, ex-player and phone-in character - Salah has lost no respect amongst the match-going Liverpool fans.

If those fans believed Salah had undermined the club, the manager and even his team-mates, they did one hell of a job of pretending otherwise.

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Anyone at Anfield for this victory would think Salah is still idolised, anyone would think Liverpool fans are not going to demonise one of their greatest-ever players for an ill-advised post-match interview.

Anyone would think these supporters laugh at the idea that Salah has tainted his legacy.

Not that they are taking sides in what many perceive to be a manager-player dispute - it is just that they recognise Liverpool are a more dangerous, attacking side with Salah in the ranks.

The storyline, of course, should be about Ekitike and two fine finishes, albeit both accommodated by some rank bad defensive work. It should be about how the young Frenchman has settled best of Liverpool’s summer signings.

It should be about how he has quickly developed a rapport with fans and has an exciting all-round game. But as soon as he was introduced just over midway through the first half, this was about Salah.

And any thoughts the local faithful would voice their disapproval of Salah’s spiky words were soon proved to be emphatically erroneous.

The ovation midway through the first half was not for the unfortunate Joe Gomez - trudging off injured not too long after his headed assist - but for the Egyptian coming out of brief exile.

But even though Salah and Arne Slot appear to have cleared a fairly poisonous air and even though he had a nice, long run-out here, it would be naive to suggest this is the end of the saga.

Salah is now on his way to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and has suggested he is unsure of what will happen, club-wise, during that time.

The bottom line is that Salah has not started any of Liverpool’s last five matches and has been fit for them all. And don’t forget, Liverpool were winning this game without him.

When Slot goes through this match again, he might also worry about the number of very good chances his side conceded to an extremely wasteful Brighton side.

Salah’s almost-legendary aversion to defensive work was still on show, that is for sure. But, quite simply, that is not what he is there for. What he is there for is to prompt and finish attacks, which he almost did in storybook fashion in added time.

Instead he shinned a sitter into the seats and lay frustrated on the Anfield turf until the warmth of the crowd lifted him. After the final whistle, every Liverpool player seemed to have a special hug for Salah and dutifully made their way from the field ahead of him.

And there was no coyness from Salah, no desire not to make a big deal out of things. He did a lap of honour and was the last to leave the pitch, the Kop singing the Salah song as he beamed widely.

For a moment, it looked like he might even become a little tearful. Funny how things work out. Now, he is away for a while and that is probably why he lingered for a few minutes. But judging by the mutual admiration, this was goodbye... not farewell.

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