Mohamed Salah scored twice at the Amex as Liverpool claimed a point in Brighton.
Liverpool’s strong start to the 23/24 campaign was halted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they fell victim to poor officiating – picking up their first loss of the season.
Goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota helped the Reds bounce back midweek against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League. With eight wins out of ten games in all competitions, Liverpool looked to finish strong before the international break.
At a ground where they were beaten by three goals to nil last season, Brighton has proved to be a difficult place for Jurgen Klopp’s team to enjoy. The Seagulls were hoping to rebound after their 6-1 battering at the hands of Aston Villa the weekend prior.
Midfield superstar, Dominik Szoboszlai, started in the centre of the park alongside Harvey Elliott and former Brighton man, Alexis Mac Allister. Joel Matip was selected over Ibrahima Konate to partner Virgil van Dijk in defence.
It was Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez alongside Mohamed Salah in attack, with Cody Gakpo still missing from action after picking up an injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In usual fashion, Liverpool blinked first in a Premier League match, with Simon Adingra scoring a peculiar long-range goal for Brighton & Hove Albion just twenty minutes into the game.
Carlos Beleba came close to doubling the hosts’ lead, but his effort from outside of the box rolled just wide of the post.
A superb team move from Liverpool was finished off by Salah after Elliott allowed the pass from Nunez under his feet. The Reds were level on the south coast five minutes from the interval.
They didn’t stop there, however, as just a few minutes later Szoboszlai had his shirt pulled by Pascal Gross. No doubt from the referee – and a penalty was awarded in stoppage time.
Liverpool’s Egyptian stepped up and completed the comeback in the first half to give the Reds the lead going into half-time. They just had to hold on to the lead and they would go top of the league, albeit for an hour or so.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s number 5 had other ideas, as he punished poor set-piece defending from Liverpool to bring the Seagulls level just fifteen minutes from time. What made the goal even more agonising for Reds fans was the sitter missed from Gravenberch midway through the second half. A chance to put Liverpool three-one up.
The scoreline remained at two-a-piece, with Liverpool picking up a point on the south coast. Sitting 4th in the Premier League going into the second international break of the season, with just one loss in the opening eleven games of the season in all competitions.
Jurgen Klopp believed the end score to be a fair reflection of the game:
“I think unfortunately, yes. One-nil, served on a plate, but similar situation [for us]; we forced them to make similar mistakes around our goals.”
Liverpool’s next challenge is the Merseyside derby on Saturday, 21 October at Anfield. Kick-off at 12.30pm.
Brighton & Hove Albion team: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, Igor (Van Hecke 63), March, Baleba, Gross, Adringa, Pedro (Fati 88), Mitoma, Ferguson (Welbeck 60).
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 80), Matip (Konate 73), Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Elliott (Gravenberch 46), Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
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