Mohamed Salah gesture to Liverpool crowd telling amid odd season

Salah was fired up after netting a penalty in the 68th minute of Liverpool's FA Cup matchup with Brighton

Mo Salah was unplayable against Brighton on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah returned to the scoresheet with a 68th-minute penalty goal past Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele as part of a 3-0 Liverpool FA Cup win.

The 33-year-old Salah has been out of sorts this campaign, still sitting in single-digits for goals this late in the season for the first time since he joined the Reds back in 2017. An odd post-match transfer request in November and an extended absence due to AFCON didn't help, either.

Salah raised both hands to the crowd and emphatically patted the Liverbird on his kit after rifling his penalty into the top-right corner past a diving Steele. The win sends Liverpool into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

After he exchanged hugs with his teammates, Salah raised his arms again, this time emphasizing the gesture of patting the Liverpool badge. The gesture was well received: he was cheered off upon being taken off.

The Egyptian international put forth arguably his best performance of the season. His deft flick on off a long ball led to a stunning second-half strike from Dominik Szoboszlai. Salah also won the Liverpool penalty, which made it 3-0.

Salah pointed to the Liverbird on his chest after scoring(Image: Getty Images)

"Salah, with a tap on his chest on the Liverpool crest, draws a second cheer," former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on the broadcast.

"That is a penalty of a man full of confidence. A superb assist for the Szobozslai goal, and the penalty is dispatched high away to Steele's left-hand side."

Salah's penalty helped clinch Liverpool's spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup(Image: Getty Images)

Salah exited to a standing ovation from the Liverpool faithful. It's been a trying season for the 33-year-old, fresh off a 2024/25 campaign where he led the Premier League in both goals and assists en route to a league title.

Liverpool is not in contention for this season's league title and seems like a long shot for the Champions League. With the Reds also out of the League Cup, the FA Cup feels like the team's best bet to win silverware.

Salah was asked about the team's chances in the FA Cup season, and he used the question as a chance to hype up a teammate.

"I think it is going to depend on his [Szoboszlai's] performance. We rely on him so much," he said. "This season he is one of the best players in the world. I wish he could carry on like this. It is great to win a trophy. It’s good fir everyone; hopefully we can do it again."

Liverpool's next game is away against Nottingham Forest in the league.