Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool to the top of the Premier League as the Egyptian star’s clinical finish wrapped up a thrilling battle against Brighton 2-1 on Sunday. Jürgen Klopp’s team was shocked by Danny Welbeck’s blistering attack after just 85 seconds at Anfield. Luis Diaz restored order with an equalizer later in the first half, before Salah scored after the break to seal a crucial win. Salah’s third goal in his last three games was his 22nd in all competitions this season. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league matches and are two points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who drew 0-0 with third-placed Manchester City just hours later at the Etihad Stadium.
Thanks to Salah, treble-chasing Liverpool are in control as they eye a record-equalling 20th English title – and first since 2020 – in Klopp’s final season.
“To be so calm in the decisive moment with the biggest chance we had in the best football we played makes us a real goalscorer, so we are happy with everything,” Klopp said of Salah.
“Brighton’s centre-backs were excellent and it was just a really good game, against an opponent where you know it will be the toughest job.
“Defending them requires the highest intensity in English football and we did that well. More possession, better possession, a very good rhythm.”
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 27 home games and will be back in action at Anfield on Thursday against modest Sheffield United.
After former Liverpool star
Klopp is a big fan of De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy and praised him this week as a “top coach”.
Asked after the match about the link with Liverpool, De Zerbi said: “I still have a two-year contract. My focus this season is on Brighton, next season.”
“But before I start next season, I would like to listen to the team’s plan. I think it is a serious matter.”
Playing for the first time since their painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United before the international break, Liverpool got a shocking taste of De Zerbi’s enterprising tactics after just two minutes.
Salah strikes
Brighton’s Simon Adingra quickly broke through in a devastating counter-attack, putting Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley out of position.
As Virgil van Dijk’s scuffed ball rolled to Welbeck just inside the penalty area, the Brighton striker struck into the top corner, leaving Klopp shaking his head.
Salah made his first league start since New Year’s Day after an injury-plagued start to 2024.
To make up for lost time, Salah almost grabbed the equalizer with a curler that whistled just wide.
The Egyptian forward threatened again from Bradley’s cross but was unable to keep his shot on target from a good position ten yards out.
Liverpool’s dominance was rewarded in the 27th minute when Brighton failed to clear Salah’s header from a corner and Diaz smashed home from close range.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister squandered a chance against his former club with a header that went narrowly wide early in the second half.
Dominik Szoboszlai shot past the far post from twenty meters, while Darwin Nunez was denied at the near post by Bart Verbruggen.
Wave after wave of Liverpool pressure crashed against Brighton’s defensive wall before De Zerbi’s men burst in the 65th minute.
Mac Allister was the catalyst with a perfectly weighted pass that picked up Salah’s run into the area and the striker sent a composed low finish past Verbruggen.
In a tense final, former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana should have punished his old side but curled his shot wide, much to Klopp’s relief.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by WhatsNew2Day staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article