Liverpool go top after 2-1 comeback win over Brighton
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LONDON – Striker Mohamed Salah scored the winner as Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 on March 31 and go top of the English Premier League, displacing Arsenal who drew 0-0 with Manchester City in a late match.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp told the BBC: “I would have loved to not be 1-0 down, I would love to have been four- or five-nil up but that’s the best we played against (Roberto) de Zerbi’s Brighton.
“Playing wise it was really good, defending wise, yes always a struggle but there have been games against Brighton we were never close but this time we were calm. That is the first of the last 10 (league games this season), let’s keep going.”
He was referring to Liverpool’s recent record against the Seagulls. After winning their first six Premier League games against Brighton, they won just one of their next seven (four draws, two losses) before March 31.
Salah’s sublime second-half strike leaves Liverpool on 67 points, two points clear of second-placed Arsenal. City are third on 64.
The Egyptian striker tormented Brighton, taking 12 shots to notch up his highest total in a Premier League game and, even though only one of them found the back of the net, it was to prove vital.
Salah has now been involved in 15 Premier League goals against Brighton (nine goals, six assists), more than any other team. The only Reds player with more goal involvements against a single team in the Premier League is club legend Steven Gerrard, who had 16 (eight goals, eight assists) against Newcastle United.
Danny Welbeck gave Brighton the lead inside 90 seconds when his side broke up a Liverpool attack and burst forward to find him just inside the box and he drilled an unstoppable shot past Caoimhin Kelleher.
The early goal jolted Liverpool into life and Luis Diaz put them level in the 27th minute after Joel Veltman’s attempted clearance went awry, allowing the Colombian winger to steal in behind the defence and hook the ball home.
Liverpool’s suffocating pressure and incisive attacking paid dividends again when Alexis Mac Allister teed up Salah to fire them into the lead in the 65th minute.
Diaz thought he had put the Reds 3-1 up six minutes later but his goal was ruled out for a razor-thin offside that was confirmed by the video assistant referee.
Salah went close on the break in the 74th minute, but fired his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
Brighton substitute and former Liverpool player Adam Lallana dragged a shot wide in the 86th minute.
Salah forced a brilliant diving one-handed save from Bart Verbruggen in the final minute of regulation time as Liverpool held on to win, much to the delight of Mac Allister, a former Seagull.
“We didn’t start as we wanted but it was an amazing game. We played against an unbelievable team. I know them very well, I know what they can do and it was a tough match, but in the end we won it and we are very happy,” he told Sky Sports.
“The mentality of the boys is amazing and that is what you need when you are 1-0 down, and today we showed it again.” REUTERS
