Liverpool came from behind to clinch a 2-1 win over Brighton at Anfield, moving to claim provisional pole position in the Premier League as a result.
Danny Welbeck’s early goal had sent the Seagulls soaring into the lead, but the Reds fought back with goals from Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah to claim an all-important victory ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium later in the day.
As it happened
Liverpool’s hopes of topping the Premier League table ahead of the blockbuster Manchester City v Arsenal clash were dented just two minutes into the match at Anfield on Sunday.
With less than a minute and a half on the clock, Danny Welbeck picked out the top corner to silence the raucous crowd on Merseyside – but from that point onwards, the Reds began to dominate possession and never looked back as they fought to secure a valuable three points.
Luis Díaz’s close-range equaliser came just before the half-hour mark, but Jürgen Klopp’s side were frustrated in their search for the winner, until Mohamed Salah netted on just his second league start of 2024.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Egyptian slotted home with 25 minutes remaining, latching onto an Alexis Mac Allister cross to dispatch past a despairing Bart Verbruggen.
Díaz thought he’d sealed the win and doubled his personal tally less than ten minutes later, but the Colombian winger was denied for a tight offside, picked up by a VAR review.
Caoimhin Kelleher was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the half wore on, but the Irishman was equal to every Brighton chance and the Seagulls were forced to head home empty-handed as the final whistle rang out.
The lineups
LIV: Kelleher; Gomez, van Dijk, Quansah, Bradley; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Diaz, Núñez, Salah
BHA: Verbruggen; Estupiñán, Dunk, van Hecke, Veltman; Baleba, Groß; Adingra, Moder, Lamptey; Welbeck
