Brighton 3-2 Liverpool: Seagulls’ super subs keep European dream alive | OneFootball

Monday night at the Amex Stadium saw Brighton defeat the league champions Liverpool in a 3-2 victory, a win which could edge them closer to securing European football next season.

The Reds arrived on the Sussex coast in a party mood and took an early lead through Harvey Elliott. An equaliser from Yasin Ayari was cancelled out by a cross-turned shot by Dominik Szoboszlai to go 2-1 up.

The home side took advantage of the visitors’ proverbial hangover with a second half resurgence from their substitutes, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood. The champions have now only gained one point since clinching the title.

As it happened

Cody Gakpo didn’t take long to show his threat to cut inside and shoot as the ball flew past the post within the first minute. The winger had scored three in their previous two outings, so Brighton were well aware of his quality coming into this game.

The champions then opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The move started with Szoboszlai switching the play to Mohamed Salah, who then played Conor Bradley into space. The Northern Irish international nutmegged Simon Adingra and laid it to Elliott, who may never score an easier goal.

Bradley was involved in the attack yet again when Frederico Chiesa took the choice to pass rather than shoot when he entered the box. It was the Italian’s first league start and that indecision showed a lack of sharpness.

A fantastic passing move from the home side levelled the game just after the half hour mark. Adam Webster fizzed the ball into Danny Welbeck, who laid it off with his first touch to Brajan Gruda. The attacking midfielder also passed first time into the path of Ayari, and his scuffed shot beat Alisson between the sticks.

The away side took the lead just before going into the half time break with a goal which seemed accidental. Elliott took a free kick short to the right hand side and Szoboszlai faced to cross but the ball looped over Bart Verbruggen into the net.

Following a powerful run down the wing, Gakpo squared it to Salah in a chance which would normally be a formality, but instead may go down as one of the misses of the season. Captaining the side, Salah would have been frustrated not to add to his long tally from that situation.

The Seagulls were stunned that they did not equalise on the hour mark when Welbeck found some space in the Liverpool box but Allison sprung out in lightning speed and blocked the attempt.  Vebruggen also produced an immense save not long after to deny Salah his 29th goal of the season with an incredible reaction.

Brighton continued to spoil the party with a goal from the substitute Mitoma in a move which was created and finished by the Japanese international. He played in Welbeck, whose shot was again saved by Allison, but Mitoma followed the pass and volleyed into the net to make it 2-2.

After a long VAR check, Brighton took the lead with a goal from academy product Hinshelwood. Mitoma was excellent yet again in the build up and laid it off to Matt O’Reilly, who found Hinshelwood at the back post to tap it in.

Brighton have now leapfrogged Brentford into eighth place with one game remaining away against Tottenham Hotspur, whereas Liverpool will host Crystal Palace in one final formality before their trophy-lift. There is no doubt that Anfield will have a party atmosphere coming from both home and away fans to celebrate their successes.

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