English Premier League: Brighton 1, Liverpool 2
In a game where Liverpool battled relentlessly with Brighton for 65 minutes, a flawless pass by Alexis Mac Allister saw Mohamed Salah enjoying lots of space. The forward quickly spread his arms in a celebratory gesture, triggering a collective sense of relief from Anfield.
The tight competition for the title means that Liverpool must be error-free in their last five home games if they aspire to clutch the Premier League cup in May. Arguably, Brighton could be their sternest test, as Roberto De Zerbi made every effort to demonstrate his strategic acumen, positioning himself as a potential successor to Jürgen Klopp. Despite Danny Welbeck’s early goal silencing Anfield in the initial 87 seconds, Brighton barely attacked thereafter, with Liverpool’s spirit revived by Luis Díaz and Salah.
Creating a strong initial impression is always the goal when auditioning for a role. De Zerbi’s team did just that in the match’s second minute, as Brighton swiftly transitioned from defence to offence. Simon Adringa stormed up the left flank, putting Jarell Quansah on defensive duty until the Brighton player reached the penalty box. His deflected cross ultimately reached ex-Manchester United striker Welbeck, who struck the ball with such precision and strength that it warranted consideration for the Team GB archery team in the forthcoming Olympics.
Adringa, who signed with Brighton from Nordsjælland in 2022, showcases Brighton’s intelligent recruitment strategy. Being a part of Ivory Coast’s winning squad in the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, he’s naturally brimming with self-assurance. He presented considerable difficulties for Conor Bradley and led to Mac Allister getting a yellow card for dragging him back as he quickly realised he couldn’t match his speed, thereby signalling a challenging afternoon for Liverpool.
Liverpool soon dusted off the surprise of the early goal as they came to dominate the game. Their sharp offensive play and swift ball movement left Brighton struggling to keep up. De Zerbi organised his players defensively, ensuring that any red-shirted player who received a pass was promptly met by one or two players in blue and white. Salah, making his premier league debut since the start of the New Year, squandered three clear chances to level the score by missing the target.
Despite his initial inaccuracy, he assisted Díaz in securing a tie. The player from Egypt got the better of Carlos Baleba at the box’s perimeter, redirecting a partially cleared corner straight over the defence line’s heads. While several Liverpool players were found offside, Díaz was able to stay onside, which enabled him to smack the ball into the net from a close distance, with an accidental assist from Joël Veltman. Lewis Dunk, the team’s leader, disputed this outcome with referee David Coote, but there was no grounds for a reversal.
The relentless efforts seemed to exhaust Brighton’s defence, perhaps explaining why Salah was left unguarded within the box. Given the opportunity, he calmly selected his target following Mac Allister’s insightful pass. Despite the successful turnaround, there was little opportunity for respite.
Díaz and Salah showcased tandem playing once again; the Egyptian player threw a pass meant for Díaz, who managed to squeeze the ball between Bart Verbruggen’s legs, but was declared offside. This razor-thin distinction was keenly observed by the linesman, a reminder of the intense scrutiny faced by Liverpool during this phase.
As the game’s intensity increased, Brighton pushed Caoimhín Kelleher to make an exceptional save from a header by Dunk, and ex-teammate Adam Lallana had a near miss against his former team, pulling his shot from inside the box wide, to the consternation of his former supporters.
Liverpool will face challenges for the rest of the season, as adversaries are not there to help create a perfect ending for manager Klopp. Nonetheless, it is shaping up to be more of a nail-biting finish.