FROM ANFIELD – Liverpool returned to the highest of the Premier League as they got here from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 in an entertaining conflict.
The guests took a totally deserved lead into the half-time break as Turkey worldwide Ferdi Kadioglu’s strike from a decent angle silenced the Kop finish.
However quick-fire targets from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah ensured Arne Slot’s Reds had been rewarded for a much-improved second-half efficiency, sending them prime of the desk after slip-ups from Manchester Metropolis at Bournemouth and Arsenal earlier within the day at Newcastle United.
How the sport unfolded
A second of particular person brilliance from Darwin Nunez nearly introduced the primary purpose early doorways, with the Uruguayan flicking the ball over his head earlier than driving into the field and forcing Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen right into a fingertip save.
Nonetheless, the Seagulls shortly discovered their toes, and a spell of dominance in possession was rewarded when Kadioglu completed off a fast counter by hanging brilliantly in off the far publish.
Solely a nice save from Caoimhin Kelleher prevented Georginio Rutter from doubling that benefit quickly after in a one-v-one state of affairs.
And, although Liverpool nearly benefited from chaos within the field from two set-pieces in response, Brighton stored on flying ahead, Kadioglu volleying over and Danny Welbeck hitting the side-netting from a free-kick earlier than the break.
Liverpool’s probabilities had been dealt an extra blow at half-time as Ibrahima Konate was compelled off with damage, however his substitute Joe Gomez nearly made an on the spot impression when he noticed a header saved from a free-kick moments after approaching.
Liverpool stored the momentum from that early probability going, and noticed Alexis Mac Allister and Virgil van Dijk each go shut from crosses into the field quickly after.
One of the best alternative, nevertheless, fell to Salah, who did not beat Verbruggen together with his end after being performed in by Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool may need felt at that time that luck was going to evade them, nevertheless it was due to a small slice of fortune that they equalised with 20 minutes remaining, Gakpo’s cross lacking everybody earlier than nestling within the far nook.
And there was nothing fortunate in regards to the strike that shortly adopted, Salah curling sensationally into the very prime nook after reducing into the field.
With Arsenal having misplaced earlier within the day and Manchester Metropolis en path to a defeat of their very own, a rocking Anfield was decided to make sure Liverpool didn’t relinquish their benefit from there.
And so it proved as Arne Slot’s facet noticed out a vital lead to relative consolation, taking prime spot within the Premier League because of this.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 6/10 – Might do little in regards to the purpose and made one important cease from Rutter within the first half.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10 – His defensive work within the second half was completely essential to Liverpool seeing off Brighton’s risk.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 6/10 – Gained most of his battles earlier than going off with an arm damage that shall be a giant concern for Slot.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – Held the Liverpool backline collectively beneath critical strain at instances.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas – 7/10 – Strong and reliable, Tsimikas is now a real risk to Andy Robertson’s beginning spot at left-back.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 – Did properly regardless of being swarmed within the first half and took management within the second interval as Liverpool turned it round.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 6/10 – Stored battling away within the centre of the park however wasn’t as influential as he will be in possession.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 5/10 – Spent the primary half chasing shadows and was an apparent candidate for a substitution with simply over an hour gone.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 7/10 – Got here to life within the second interval, giving Estupinan nightmares and scoring an unbelievable winner.
CF: Darwin Nunez – 6/10 – Not an enormous purpose risk however he labored his socks off.
LW: Cody Gakpo – 7/10 – Stored going at Brighton’s defence as Liverpool turned the screw and earned the slice of luck that noticed him equalise.
Substitutes
SUB: Joe Gomez (46′ for Konate) – 8/10 – Imperious after approaching for the injured Konate.
SUB: Curtis Jones (67′ for Mac Allister) – 7/10 – Performed a key function in Liverpool’s second-half enchancment.
SUB: Luis Diaz (67′ for Szoboszlai) – 7/10
SUB: Wataru Endo (77′ for Nunez) – 7/10
SUB: Conor Bradley (90+1′ for Salah) – 6/10
Subs not used: Vitezslav Jaros, Andy Robertson, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton.
Supervisor
Arne Slot – 8/10 – Appeared to have been outmanoeuvred within the first half however his tactical tweaks and subs turned issues round.
GK: Bart Verbruggen – 7/10 – Made various glorious saves to maintain Liverpool at bay however could not do a lot in regards to the targets.
RB: Joel Veltman – 5/10 – His withdrawal early within the second half was an indication of Liverpool’s rising risk down his flank.
CB: Jan Paul van Hecke – 6/10 – Essential to Brighton dominating the primary half however could not maintain the tide again within the second.
CB: Igor Julio – 5/10 – Appeared to battle as soon as Liverpool began to drive Brighton into battles in their very own defensive third.
LB: Pervis Estupinan – 6/10 – Glorious within the opening 45 minutes however was given a torrid time by Salah within the second.
RW: Ferdi Kadioglu – 7/10 – Took his purpose brilliantly and did every little thing requested of him on either side of the ball.
CM: Jack Hinshelwood – 6/10 – Liverpool actually struggled to trace him early doorways however his affect in the end light.
CM: Yasin Ayari – 7/10 – Gained so many battles within the centre of the pitch to offer Brighton a foothold and was actually helpful in possession alongside it.
LW: Kaoru Mitoma – 7/10 – A relentless menace down the left-hand facet together with his dribbling and shut management.
CF: Danny Welbeck – 7/10 – Liverpool struggled to become familiar together with his physicality and link-up till Joe Gomez entered the sector.
CF: Georginio Rutter – 6/10 – An excellent mixture of power and elusiveness, he was threatening all through.
Substitutes
SUB: Mats Wieffer (76′ for Ayari) – 6/10
SUB: Brajan Gruda (76′ for Veltman) – 6/10
SUB: Simon Adingra (87 for Mitoma) – N/A
SUB: Jakub Moder (87 for Kadioglu) – N/A
SUB: Evan Ferguson (87 for Hinshelwood) – N/A
Subs not used: Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso, Carlos Baleba.
Supervisor
Fabian Hurzeler – 7/10 – Got here up with a superb plan to harm Liverpool first half however could not react within the second.