Salah’s stunner completes turnaround as Liverpool go top

A second-half comeback from Liverpool noticed them return to the Premier League summit with a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.

Ferdi Kadioglu’s eye-catching 14th-minute strike handed the guests the lead on Saturday, however Brighton have been unable to make their possibilities rely in a dominant first half.

Cody Gakpo, scorer of two targets towards the Seagulls within the EFL Cup in midweek, restored parity within the 69th minute when his cross narrowly evaded Darwin Nunez and nestled into the nook.

And the turnaround was full three minutes later when Mohamed Salah curled a trademark left-footed end past Bart Verbruggen.

With Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis shedding, Liverpool are prime of the pile on 25 factors, two away from their nearest challengers after the opening 10 video games, whereas Brighton are seventh.

How the match unfolded

Nunez was denied a surprising solo objective after flicking the ball over Joel Veltman and shrugging of Kadioglu’s problem, solely to see his effort tipped behind by Verbruggen’s outstretched left glove.

Nevertheless, a bolt from the blue noticed Brighton take the lead, with Kadioglu notching his first Seagulls objective with a surprising strike that cannoned in off the publish.

Liverpool’s seek for an equaliser was met with a flurry of saves from Verbruggen, who denied Alexis Mac Allister a objective towards his former membership, with Brighton having earlier gone shut by way of Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

However two targets in simply 128 seconds turned the match on its head, with Gakpo’s tried cross going all over to attract the Reds stage.

Salah then powered Arne Slot’s aspect in entrance, capping off a sweeping transfer as Liverpool turned defence into assault. Curtis Jones equipped the cross out to the Egyptian, who set himself on his stronger foot and bent a elegant effort into the left-hand nook to please the Anfield devoted and ship the Reds prime.

It was a landmark objective for Salah too, as he scored his 164th Premier League objective which strikes him into eighth place within the all-time prime goalscorers listing within the competitors.

Slot’s comeback kings

Liverpool made a reputation of being the comeback kings beneath Jurgen Klopp, however their impressed second-half turnaround proved Slot has mastered these powers of restoration too.

After a dismal opening 45 minutes that noticed Brighton dominate for giant components, a return to the ruthless attacking shows which were on present for a lot of the season ultimately emerged after the restart.

Mac Allister’s header, that was saved by Verbruggen, was an indication of their intent, whereas Virgil van Dijk squandered a golden probability moments later after being picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s supply – the Dutchman unable to seek out the specified connection.

Luis Diaz’s introduction supplied the spark that was lacking within the ultimate third, and his influence helped pave the way in which for Gakpo and Salah to take centre stage.

Slot’s newest consequence could possibly be his greatest, given the outcomes round them, although there have been worrying indicators that he’ll look to rectify earlier than Liverpool welcome former favorite Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen within the UEFA Champions League subsequent week.

Seagulls left to lament profligacy

At one level Brighton appeared destined to finish the day inside the highest 4, however their lack of ability to place away their possibilities proved expensive.

Kadioglu ought to have doubled his tally when he fired over from shut vary, whereas Rutter was denied one-on-one by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Welbeck then curled a free-kick simply vast shortly earlier than the break. Towards one other aspect Brighton might have gotten away with their wastefulness, however the Reds’ ruthless streak ultimately shone by way of.

Verbruggen was readily available to disclaim Salah’s tried flick early within the second half after the Liverpool star was performed by way of by Nunez, however he was powerless in stopping the 2 targets that gained the sport for the hosts.

Whereas nonetheless within the infancy of his tenure, this was Fabian Hurzeler’s first Anfield expertise. He now is aware of the issue of profitable there, however will take the positives from his aspect’s show after they welcome a wounded Pep Guardiola aspect to the Amex Stadium subsequent Saturday.

What managers stated

Arne Slot: “That they had an amazing sport plan at the moment as nicely and so they have spent some huge cash lately to have that a lot high quality. I am not stunned that the primary half was actually tough for us. The depth was far beneath what I anticipate from our gamers.

“I used to be ready for us to attain the objective however we did not – that is why I made the substitutions. Each of them got here on actually sturdy. Then you may say it’s kind of of luck however the goalkeeper can not react. The second objective was a Mo Salah particular. It is not the primary and never the final time he’ll rating from that place.”

Fabian Hurzeler: “There was an enormous probability at the moment. If we rating the second objective, or we might have even bought a 3rd or fourth, within the first half then it’s a totally different sport. Then after all they’ve particular person high quality. They scored out of nowhere with a cross, they scored with a shot from exterior the field. On this league there are top of the range gamers.

“We’ve to be on the most and at the moment we weren’t for 90 minutes. Then you may’t win the sport.”

Membership studies

Liverpool report | Brighton report

Subsequent Premier League fixtures

Key details

Liverpool have now gained eight of their 10 Premier League matches beneath Slot, essentially the most ever by a Reds supervisor in his first 10 top-flight matches accountable for the membership.

This was solely the second time because the begin of 2021/22 that Brighton misplaced a Premier League match by which they led at half-time in 40 such cases (W30 D8), alongside a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in February final season.

Salah has 10 targets and 6 assists within the Premier League towards Brighton, essentially the most any participant has towards them within the division. Because the Seagulls joined the competitors in 2017, solely Salah himself versus Manchester United (18) has extra objective involvements towards a single opponent within the competitors.

Welbeck has scored (three) or assisted (one) a objective in 4 successive Premier League appearances for under the second time in his 343-game profession within the competitors, additionally doing so in November 2010 for Sunderland.