Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool FC - Premier League

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Liverpool drop the clean sheet but still gather all three points against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton 1 – 3 Liverpool

Brighton: Trossard 45’
Liverpool: Salah 5’, 75’, Henderson 7’,

Pre-Match

Andy Robertson and Sadio Mané both start on the bench as Klopp put out a changed side to take on Brighton & Hove Albion. They’re playing to break Manchester City’s point total record, and they’ll need to win all of their final games to do it.

First Half

Roberto Firmino gets the first real opportunity after only four minutes. The shot is deflected wide for a corner, but nothing comes of the set piece.

GOAL!! Salah – 5’ – Liverpool capitalize on a terrible error from Pröpper in the back. Naby Keïta skins him easily inside of the 18 yard box and passes it to Mohamed Salah, who gets the breakthrough.

GOAL!! Henderson – 7’ – Brighton are just…bad at passing out the back. Another mistake in their half less than two minutes after the first leads to Henderson putting away a sweet strike from distance.

By the time they hit the hydration break, the Reds are still firmly in the driver’s seat, though they haven’t struck again.

As if on cue, Brighton get a chance with a fast break down the flank. Alisson makes an excellent close save to keep the ball out out of the net.

Brighton have been sloppy in possession the whole half, and Liverpool haven’t hesitated to take advantage. They nearly grab a third goal because of their high press, but Firmino can’t quite get the shot off.

Brighton have woken up in the last 10 minutes of the half, forcing the defenders and Alisson to do their jobs and penning them back in their own half.

Neco Williams picks up the first yellow card of the game after one too many fouls.

Goal 🙁 Trossard – 45’ – Credit where it’s due, this was a beautifully worked goal that started with a perfect cross from Tariq Lamptey, who has been Brighton’s best player this half. Trossard controls it and sends it into the back of the net. Fare thee well, clean sheet.

Second Half

The second half begins with the young Williams being taken out for Andy Robertson. Considering his yellow card and the trouble he was having as the half wore on, the change is unsurprising.

Salah makes small run behind the defender and picks up the pass, but his shot is blocked. He looks like he can’t believe he didn’t score his second, and honestly, neither can I.

Liverpool are pushing for a third, but the closest they’ve come is a tame effort from Henderson that’s easily gathered by Maupey.

On the other end, Brighton earn a corner, and luckily Murphy flubs a perfect chance to equalize from close range.

Keïta and Oxlade-Chamberlain are replaced by Mané and Fabinho for the last 30 minutes, which means that Klopp will end the game with his strongest side.

An unfortunate bobble of the ball sees Henderson’s shot deflected just on the wrong side of the post.

GOAL!!! Salah – 75’ – However, that doesn’t get them down for long, and Salah gets his second and Liverpool’s third on the resulting corner.

Try as he might, Salah can’t grab that final goal in the last 15 minutes to earn himself a hat trick, but Liverpool still do enough to get the three points.