Mo Salah fired Liverpool’s winner as the hosts recovered from a half-time deficit to down Brighton.
The Seagulls were the better side in the first half and full value for the lead which came through Ferdi Kadıoglu’s fantastic strike.
Both goalkeepers kept the score from being added to until midway through the second half, with Caoimhin Kelleher denying Georginio Rutter when through on goal and Bart Verbruggen producing fine stops from Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister.
Liverpool had luck on their side for the equaliser in the 70th minute when Cody Gakpo’s cross evaded those in the centre and nestled into the far corner, but there was no luck required two minutes later when Salah netted a stereotypical strike cutting in from the right to fire an unstoppable winner.
The win, and Manchester City’s loss at Bournemouth, sends Liverpool two points clear at the top of the table with Brighton in seventh.
Talking Point – Trophy era not over until Egyptian King leaves
Jurgen Klopp’s prolonged departure from Anfield led many to presume Liverpool would move into a transitional period, with Arne Slot’s task thought comparable to those faced by Manchester United managers after Sirs Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson.
The reality is that Liverpool’s spell as a force under the German only really began with Salah’s arrival, seeing them go from eighth in 2016/17 to the top-four and a place in the UEFA Champions League final the following year – and then seven trophies in the next six years.
Just like the glory days of Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s traversed the reigns of four managers, the current time is likely to last until Salah leaves Liverpool – whoever is in charge.
At 32 and with his contract up in the summer, Salah is in a great position to demand another couple of seasons at least being paid as highly as anyone in the Premier League to stop him turning down the fiscal lure of playing in Saudi Arabia.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold also a chance to depart at the end of the season, a lot of work needs to go on behind the scenes at Anfield, but his influence on the last two games show the Egyptian star’s presence is key to the fine start to Slot’s tenure continuing into the foreseeable future
Player of the Match – Yasin Ayari (Brighton)
Brighton’s record of buying players and turning them into stars is the envy of the rest of the Premier League and Swedish midfielder Ayari looks like being the next one. He was slowed by a few tough tackles by Liverpool after the break, but for much of the game he dominated with his fantastic range of passing and clever interplay. His through-ball to Rutter should have resulted in a second Brighton goal.
Player Ratings
Liverpool: Kelleher 7; Alexander-Arnold 6, Konate 6, Van Dijk 6, Tsimikas 7; Mac Allister 6, Gravenberch 6; Salah 8, Szoboszlai 6, Gakpo 6; Nunez 7.
Subs: Gomez 7, Jones 6, Diaz 6, Endo 6, Bradley.
Brighton: Verbruggen 7; Veltman 7, Van Hecke 6, Julio 6, Estupinan 6; Kadioglu 7, Ayari 8*, Hinshelwood 6, Mitoma 7; Rutter 6, Welbeck 7.
Subs: Gruda 6, Wieffer 6, Adingra, Moder, Ferguson.
Match Highlights
9′ GREAT STOP FROM VERBRUGGEN! It would have been an incredible goal from Nunez. He flicked the ball over a player in the centre circle then drove to the left hand side of the box, before cutting in and curling an effort towards the far top corner, but the Brighton stopper stretched his left hand to parry the effort away.
14′ GOAL! LIVERPOOL 0-1 BRIGHTON (KADIOGLU) Mitoma drove at the Liverpool defence and flicked a ball into the area which Welbeck inadvertently diverted into the path of Kadioglu who had time to line his effort up before curling a blistering effort which rocketed in off the post.
27′ GOOD STOP FROM KELLEHER! A fantastic through-ball from Ayari and Rutter holds off Van Dijk but Kelleher faced with a one-on-one spreads himself and blocks the shot.
36′ KADIOGLU SPURNS CHANCE FOR A SECOND! A fantastic breakaway. Mitoma and Welbeck exchange passes in the Brighton half, then again on the edge of the Liverpool box, ending with the Japanese star clipping a ball to the back post which Kadioglu, with the height a little awkward, volleyed high over the bar.
47′ GOMEZ WITH GREAT CHANCE TO SCORE! He has never scored for the Reds and as the Brighton defence came up to defend a free kick he was onside but could only plant his free header straight at Verbruggen.
56′ VERBRUGGEN DENIES SALAH ONE ON ONE! He latches onto Nunes’ flick on and races through on goal. With the Brighton keeper sliding out at speed he looks to dink the ball over him but Verbruggen stretches an arm to block the ball and then claims it.
70′ GOAL! LIVERPOOL (GAKPO) 1-1 BRIGHTON! Gakpo turns inside on the left flank and curls in a cross which misses everyone in the box and then nestles inside the far corner.
72′ GOAL! LIVERPOOL (SALAH) 2-1 BRIGHTON! A typical Mo Salah goal. He is played a ball from Jones outside the full back on the right hand side and the star turns inside Estupinan before blasting an effort past Verbruggen inside the far post.
Key Stat
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