Mohamed Salah was the hero once again as Liverpool recovered from a nightmare first-half against Brighton to claim a vital 2-1 win that sees them climb to the top of the table, fully capitalising on surprise defeats for both Manchester City and Arsenal.
If the Reds were expecting to cruise to victory, however, Brighton clearly hadn’t read the script. After a fast-paced start from the hosts that saw Darwin Nunez denied by an incredible one-handed save from Bart Vebruggen, Anfield was silenced. Racing onto a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cut-back, Ferdi Kadioglu hammered in a juggernaut of a strike that smacked the far post and flew into the opposite corner to give the visitors a shock lead.
That should’ve served as the almighty kick up the proverbial that Liverpool needed to shake them into life but Brighton wouldn’t relent – Caoimhin Kelleher stopped Georginio Rutter making it two before goalscorer Kadioglu wastefully volleyed over and then in-form Danny Welbeck bent a free-kick narrowly wide.
What a difference a goal makes. With nothing really going right for Liverpool, everything suddenly changed in the 69th minute as Cody Gakpo cut inside on his right foot and his dangerous cross ended up flicking off a Brighton head before nestling in Verbruggen’s net for the equaliser.
Enter Salah. Having been kept quiet for most of the contest, the Egyptian sprung into life on the counter, cutting inside on his left foot and unleashing an unstoppable drive into the far corner. It was trademark Salah and another moment that saw their main man come up clutch.
Ultimately it wasn’t vintage, free-flowing Liverpool for the most part but with City shockingly losing at Bournemouth – as well Arsenal throwing away more points – Arne Slot’s team are sitting pretty at the top of the table, and that’s all that matters.
GOAL rates Liverpool’s players from Anfield…
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AFPGoalkeeper & Defence
Caoimhin Kelleher (6/10):
Beaten by the sheer power of Kadioglu’s thunderous early strike but then produced a big save with his feet to stop Rutter making it two.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10):
With 66.7% passing accuracy it shows how loose he was in possession at times and he couldn’t get forward as freely as usual, having to be wary of the dangerous Mitoma going the other way. He did, however, look up for the battle and kept the Japanese winger under wraps in the second half especially.
Ibrahima Konate (5/10):
Like many of his team-mates had a tricky first-half and was replaced at half-time after injuring his arm.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10):
Was turning into a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool’s leader. Inadvertently caused Konate’s injury by shoving him to ground and made a hash of a huge chance in the second half as he completely missed the ball. Still, helped the Reds get over the line and back on top of the table.
Kostas Tsimikas (7/10):
His wicked deliveries from corners were a highlight but didn’t manage to get forward and support attacks as much as he’d have liked, such was Brighton’s threat on the counter. Solid defensively in the second half and won the majority of his duels. Fair to say Robertson wasn’t missed.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch (6/10):
Wasn’t able to control the game, as he usually does so effectively, with Brighton’s incisive counters causing him and his team-mates all sorts of problems. His pass completion (80.5%) was strikingly down on its usually high rate.
Alexis Mac Allister (4/10):
Almost scored the equaliser early in the second half with a brave header but couldn’t beat Verbruggen. Ultimately a frustrating afternoon that saw him fail to create and connect with his passes.
Dominik Szoboszlai (4/10):
Wasteful in possession and struggled to progress the ball throughout. Hooked just after the hour mark and deservedly so.
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Getty Images SportAttack
Mohamed Salah (8/10):
What a goal. Was losing his battle with Pervis Estupinan and Verbruggen until the 72nd minute, when he arrowed in Liverpool’s second to complete the comeback.
Darwin Nunez (6/10):
Powered through early on to force an incredible save from Verbruggen but wasn’t really his day. Did help disrupt the Brighton backline for Gakpo’s goal.
Cody Gakpo (7/10):
Looked to make things happen whenever he got on the ball and eventually got his reward, with his dangerous in-swinging cross from the left ending up in the net.
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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager
Joe Gomez (6/10):
On for Konate after the break and almost scored his first career goal with two headed chances that were saved by Verbruggen.
Curtis Jones (7/10):
Everything seemed to change as soon as he came on. Got the assist for Salah’s winning goal as he kept the ball moving quickly on the counter.
Luis Diaz (6/10):
Looked like he had a point to prove when he came on but didn’t quite happen for him.
Wataru Endo (6/10):
Brought on to add a bit more solidity in the middle of the pitch after Liverpool grabbed the lead.
Conor Bradley (N/A):
Introduced in stoppage time to add numbers at the back.
Arne Slot (7/10):
It looked like being a chastening afternoon for Slot and his side as Brighton threatened to spoil the party but his substitutions helped make a difference after the break and he’ll be delighted to be sitting on top of the pile, following City’s shock defeat at Bournemouth.
Source goal.com
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