Mohamed Salah’s precise finish sealed Liverpool’s comeback victory over Brighton, propelling them to the top of the Premier League standings.
Jurgen Klopp’s team faced an early setback when Danny Welbeck scored a stunning goal just 85 seconds into the match at Anfield.
However, Luis Diaz restored balance with an equalizer later in the first half, before Mohamed Salah secured a crucial victory with a goal in the second half.
Salah’s recent goal-scoring form has seen him tally his 22nd goal across all competitions this season.
Liverpool, unbeaten in their last six league matches, now sit three points ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City later on Sunday could potentially see them leapfrog Liverpool on goal difference with a victory.
The tight competition at the top of the table has led to the Premier League’s top three teams being separated by just one point for the first time in a decade after 28 games prior to this weekend’s matches.
Liverpool, led by Salah’s contributions, remain strong contenders for their 20th English title as they chase a historic treble in Klopp’s final season.
Their formidable home record, boasting an unbeaten streak of 27 league games, sets the stage for their next match against Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday.
Amid speculation about Klopp’s successor, former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen and Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi emerging as a reported candidate have added intrigue to the managerial landscape for Liverpool beyond this season.
Klopp is a big fan of De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy and praised him as a “top coach” this week.
Playing for the first time since their painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester United before international break, Liverpool had a shocking taste of De Zerbi’s enterprising tactics after just two minutes.
Salah strikes
Brighton’s Simon Adingra initiated a swift counter-attack that caught Liverpool’s right-back Conor Bradley off guard.
Virgil van Dijk’s clearance fell to Welbeck inside the penalty area, who struck a powerful shot into the top corner, leaving Klopp visibly frustrated.
Salah made his first league start since New Year’s Day, eager to make an impact after a series of injuries in early 2024.
In an attempt to equalize, Salah narrowly missed the target with a curling effort and later failed to keep his shot on target from a promising position inside the box.
Liverpool’s dominance paid off when Diaz capitalized on Brighton’s failure to clear Salah’s header from a corner, volleying home from close range in the 27th minute.
Nunez’s agile attempt from the ground was saved by Bart Verbruggen just before halftime.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alexis Max Allister missed a chance to score against his old club as his header narrowly missed the target early in the second half.
Szoboszlai’s shot from 20 yards flew past the far post, while Nunez was denied by Verbruggen at the near post.
Liverpool continued to apply pressure, eventually breaking through Brighton’s defense in the 65th minute. Mac Allister played a precise pass to Salah, who calmly finished past Verbruggen.
In a tense finale, former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana had a golden opportunity to punish his former team.