Liverpool supporters enjoyed watching their team at Anfield on Saturday for what felt like the first time in a long while.
The Reds have been poor on home turf recently, losing 3-0 against Nottingham Forest, 4-1 to PSV Eindhoven and drawing with Sunderland.
Last weekend’s clash with Brighton was viewed as another potential banana skin, but Liverpool put on an energetic and fluid display to win 2-0.
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Gut feeling, has Mohamed Salah played his last game for Liverpool? If yes, how do you feel about it?
421 appearances
250 goals
114 assists
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The occasion was helped by the fact that Brighton brought their usual fast-paced, counter-attacking style with them to Anfield. The visitors certainly played their part in creating an entertaining game.
There were several players who stood out for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, but none more so than Yankuba Minteh. Minteh caused Milos Kerkez problems throughout the game, and showcased why he could soon be a regular performer at Anfield.
Yankuba Minteh looks like a Liverpool player
Given all the noise surrounding Mohamed Salah currently, it is likely that Liverpool will be needing a new right-sided forward in the near future.
Top-level, left-footed attackers such as Salah are hard to find, but Minteh looks like he could be heading into that category.
Milos Kerkez and Yankuba Minteh battle for the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Brighton at Anfield.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
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The Gambian was a constant menace. His pace is electric, and there was a feeling that Brighton could really hurt Liverpool whenever he got on the ball.
Minteh completed four of his five attempted dribbles at Anfield, showing exactly what he brings to the team. Liverpool have been missing a wide player who can beat a man with pace and trickery since Sadio Mane left, and the 21-year-old is exactly that kind of player.
But where Minteh perhaps surprised a few Liverpool fans was with his creativity. It was his perfectly weighted reverse through-ball which sent Diego Gomez in for a chance which he really should have scored.
How many Premier League points will Liverpool collect while Mohamed Salah is at AFCON?
How many points will Liverpool pick up while Mohamed Salah is at AFCON
Salah could miss as many as six Premier League matches 😬
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As the Reds scour the market for a player who could tentatively step into Salah’s boots, Minteh should have shot up their shortlist on Saturday.
How much would Minteh cost Liverpool?
If Liverpool need an evaluation on just how good Minteh is, they need only ask Arne Slot. The Gambia international helped him win the Dutch Cup while on loan with Feyenoord in 2023/24, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in a breakout season.
“He certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence,” Slot said in October 2023. “His willingness to give everything is enormous. When we see his statistics, it is really impressive. Minteh ran more sprint meters against Ajax in an hour than many players in the two games. He is incredibly fast. And he wants it so badly.”
Although he was highly rated back at Newcastle, PSR concerns led to the Magpies selling Minteh to Brighton for £30m in 2024.
While that represented a bit of a bargain for the Seagulls, it does mean that if anyone is to buy Minteh from them, it is going to cost at least twice that amount.
That might sound like a lot for a player who scored only once in 16 Premier League starts this season. But the potential of Minteh is clear and his ceiling is sky high. Liverpool’s recruitment team are smart, and they will recognise as much. After watching him on Saturday, Reds fans likely will as well.
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