Liverpool beat Brighton after turnaround, Salah scores winning goal

On Sunday afternoon, Liverpool hosted Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield in the 30th round of the Premier League. The Reds were down early, but turned the score around later in the game and won 2-1. At least until the evening clash between Arsenal and Manchester City, they have moved into first place.

Both teams have several injured players on their squad. Jürgen Klopp couldn’t include goalkeeper Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones or Andrew Robertson in the squad. Robert De Zerbi was missing João Pedro, James Milner and Kaoru Mitoma.

Danny Welbeck shocked a packed Liverpool stadium after just a minute and a half of play. From their own half of the pitch, the visitors quickly got to the opponent’s penalty area, from the edge of which the experienced English striker hit a half-volley exactly to the right post.

In the ninth minute on the other side, Salah narrowly missed the target with his shot. Three minutes later, his teammate Mac Allister headed over the crossbar from outside the penalty area, as did the Egyptian cannonballer from close range moments later. An active Salah missed the Racks’ net at the end of the opening 20 minutes.

The Reds did manage to equalise at 1-1 in the 27th minute. After a corner, Mohamed Salah headed the ball back towards the box, with one of the defending players bringing it down on the foot of Luis Díaz charging in behind the defence. The Colombian then promptly shot past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from the spot.

The home side’s clear shooting advantage at half-time did not result in their second goal, and the teams went into the booths tied at half-time. Liverpool also added another finish after the break. In the 54th minute Alexis Mac Allister headed just wide of the target.

65. a minute later, Salah’s goal was already coming. The star forward turned the score to 2-1 with a successful cross after a fine assist from Mac Allister, who effectively beat the Brighton defence with his final pass.

Six minutes later, Díaz sent the ball into the net for the second time in the match, but this time he was premature. His shot was preceded by an offside, which was seen by the assistant referee and subsequently confirmed by VAR.

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had to intervene for the first time in the second half with ten minutes remaining. He dealt with Dunk’s header and also intervened after a follow-up corner. Lallana, who had been substituted not long before, shot wide of the three posts. On the other side of the pitch, Verbruggen saved Salah’s set-up.

However, the score was not changed, so Liverpool currently lead the table of the highest football competition in England. And unless Arsenal beat Manchester City tonight, that will continue to be the case. Brighton are ninth, and they are pulling away from the cup.

The Premier League will offer two rounds of games in the coming week. Klopp’s charges will face Sheffield and Manchester United, while De Zerbi’s men will challenge Brentford and Arsenal.

Source: Premier League, Canal+ Sport