Danny Welbeck scored twice to present Brighton a deserved win over Liverpool on the Amex Stadium, a end result that leaves Arne Slot’s facet looking at a probably damaging gap within the race for a top-four end.
Liverpool’s afternoon started badly earlier than it had barely began. Hugo Ekitike limped off after simply eight minutes following an unintentional collision with James Milner, forcing Curtis Jones into an early introduction.
Brighton made the many of the disruption. On 14 minutes, Ferdi Kadioglu’s diagonal ball to the far put up was nodded again throughout the world by Diego Gomez, and Welbeck was available to move his eleventh league purpose of the season into the online.
Liverpool responded by an unlikely supply. Mamardashvili’s lengthy kick was headed backwards by Lewis Dunk with out realising Milos Kerkez had anticipated the scenario and raced in behind.
The Liverpool left-back lifted the bouncing ball coolly over Verbruggen to degree on half-hour.
Welbeck places Brighton again in entrance
The second half adopted a well-known sample. Brighton got here out with intent and restored their lead on 56 minutes by the only of finishes.
Yankuba Minteh’s deep cross discovered Jack Hinshelwood on the far put up, whose cushioned contact put the ball completely into the trail of Welbeck, who tucked residence from shut vary. A VAR examine for offside brought on a quick delay earlier than the purpose was confirmed.
Liverpool pushed for an equaliser within the closing phases however discovered Brighton nicely organised. Gakpo examined Verbruggen from contained in the field and Jones got here shut from a decent angle, however the residence facet defended nicely.
Kaoru Mitoma and Carlos Baleba had been launched to recent legs, and Brighton regarded the extra more likely to rating a 3rd late on, Mamardashvili making a pointy save to disclaim Minteh one-on-one.
Welbeck was substituted to a heat ovation with ten minutes remaining, his twelfth league purpose of the season confirming his standing because the main English scorer within the Premier League this season.
His absence from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, introduced earlier within the week, was not misplaced on the house assist.
The end result leaves Liverpool’s Champions League qualification in critical jeopardy, with the Reds having now misplaced ten Premier League video games this season for the primary time since 2015-16.
An FA Cup quarter-final towards Manchester Metropolis and a Champions League last-eight tie towards PSG await after the worldwide break – however first, Slot should tackle why his facet proceed to look so susceptible.
