The perfect day looked far beyond Liverpool when they trudged off at half-time battered and bruised by an upwardly mobile Brighton. But a perfect day it proved for Arne Slot’s side, who climbed back to the top of the Premier League courtesy of a second-half transformation and another stupendous goal from the Mohamed Salah collection.
Salah curled a trademark winner into the top corner of Bart Verbruggen’s net, two minutes after Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Ferdi Kadioglu’s first half opener, to move ahead of Robbie Fowler as the eighth leading goalscorer in the Premier League era. More importantly, with Manchester City and Arsenal both losing, it moved Liverpool two points clear of the champions at the summit and seven above Mikel Arteta’s struggling side.
Brighton’s slender interval lead flattered Liverpool enormously. Fabian Hürzeler’s side were superior in every department and passed their way around Liverpool’s press with style and confidence. A two-goal advantage would have been a more accurate reflection of the visitors’ dominance. The majority of the Anfield crowd were unable to disguise their anger at the home performance and, though a rare occurrence, it was understandable on the evidence of a first half that left Slot regularly blowing out his cheeks in disbelief. It fuelled the release that was to come.
Slow, sloppy and far too casual, Liverpool’s first-half display played into the hands of a quality opponent. The Brighton central midfield of Jack Hinshelwood and Yasin Ayari completely outplayed their opposite numbers Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, likewise the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma against Trent Alexander-Arnold. Fellow winger Kadioglu also weighed in with a significant contribution.
Darwin Núñez was close to giving the hosts an early lead when collecting a loose ball in the centre circle, shrugging off Kadioglu en route to the penalty area and curling a fine shot towards the top corner. Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen produced a finger-tip save and was barely troubled again for the remainder of the opening period.
Brighton’s breakthrough epitomised their slickness in possession. Ayari threaded a pass through to Kadioglu, who spotted and found Mitoma in space on the left. The Japan international rolled the ball into Danny Welbeck inside the area and, though his flick went behind Georginio Rutter, it fell perfectly for Kadioglu who had continued his run into the box. The Brighton winger swept a first time shot across Caoimhín Kelleher and in off the inside of the far post.
Rutter should have doubled the visitors lead when played clean through on goal by a superb pass from Ayari. The striker did well to hold off the attentions of Virgil van Dijk but steered his effort straight at Kelleher. A routine yet crucial save. Kadioglu could have had his and Brighton’s second too when found unmarked at the back post by Mitoma’s cross from the by-line but sliced over on the volley. Anfield made its feelings known to Alexander-Arnold for a half-hearted challenge before Brighton broke. Welbeck skimmed the side-netting with a free-kick that left Kelleher rooted to the spot and was also dragged down by Mac Allister as he advanced into the Liverpool area following a loose pass by Alexander-Arnold. The offence occurred just outside the box, however, and this time Welbeck’s free-kick was comfortable for the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Slot’s problems continued after the half-time whistle when Ibrahima Konaté left the field with his arm in a sling. The central defender was replaced by Joe Gomez for the second half. It was not the only switch that Liverpool made. The home side restarted as they had to – playing with more aggression, speed and purpose to transform the contest. Brighton, in almost total command before the break, were clinging on long before the dam burst.
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Gomez had a great chance within seconds of his arrival but headed a Kostas Tsimikas free-kick straight at Verbruggen. The Brighton keeper made two excellent saves as Liverpool went close to equalising three times in as many minutes. First, he reacted well to tip away a diving header from Mac Allister that was destined for the bottom corner. Then, moments after Van Dijk had failed to connect with a brilliant Alexander-Arnold cross six yards out, Verbruggen managed to get a hand to Salah’s chip after Núñez played his fellow striker through on goal.
The Brighton goal was finally breached by an element of good fortune and Liverpool’s perseverance. Gakpo curled over an inswinging cross from the left that just missed the head of the impressive Jan Paul van Hecke, and Núñez behind him, before nestling inside the far post. Slot had introduced Curtis Jones and Luis Díaz minutes earlier, switching to a diamond in midfield, and his substitutions were instrumental in blowing the roof of Anfield as Liverpool struck again two minutes later.
Jones led a break from the edge of the Liverpool area and exchanged passes with Díaz before releasing Salah on the right. The Egyptian king did what he does best, cutting inside his marker, in this case Pervis Estupiñán, and curling a stunning, unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner. Some way to go top.
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