Liverpool 2-1 Brighton: Salah and Gakpo seal comeback to send Reds back to top

A quickfire double from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield to move top of the Premier League.

Match Report

Arne Slot saw his side score two goals in three minutes in the second half after Ferdi Kadioglu put Brighton ahead early on.

Seeking revenge for their midweek Carabao Cup defeat to the same opposition, Brighton dominated the early stages. Kadioglu's breakthrough goal was one that involved 21 passes before he drilled his side into the lead with just 13 minutes played.

The visitors continued to trouble Liverpool in the first half who appeared to struggle to gain any kind of control as Brighton pillaged their back four. Georginio Rutter came close to doubling the Seagulls' lead before the hour mark but drew out a vital one-on-one save from Caoimhin Kelleher.

Goalscorer Kadioglu nearly netted his second as Brighton broke with Liverpool's defence back peddling but he watched his volley on the back post flash over the bar after meeting a chipped Mitoma cross.

As the first half drew to a close, a rare Liverpool first-half attack saw Ibrahima Konate fall heavily during a corner kick and forced off during the interval with his arm tucked into a makeshift sling.

After the break, Liverpool swung the momentum finding rhythm in their passing as they searched for an equaliser. All of a sudden, Bart Verbruggen found himself very much involved in the Brighton net, keeping out Alexis Mac Allister with a reaction save minutes after the restart.

Following continued Liverpool pressure, Gakpo followed up his brace in midweek, with the leveller before Salah whipped in the winning goal.

Victory for Liverpool means they find themselves top of the league two points ahead of Manchester City who suffered defeat at Bournemouth. Defeat for Brighton denied them a place in the top four and leaves them in seventh.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

9' Nunez's shot in the box save by the keeper

14' Kadıoğlu puts visitors in lead! Liverpool 0-1 Brighton

22' Welbeck's shot in the box saved by Kelleher

26' Salah's attempt stopped by the keeper

28' Rutter's shot saved by Kellher as Ayari passes

35' Kadioglu's right footed attempt in the box off the bar

41' Welbeck's free kick just wide

45' Mac Allister foul but not booked

46' Konate off due to injury, Gomez on

47' Konate's arm get injured

47' Gomez's header saved by the keeper

53' Mac Allister's header saved by the keeper

54' Van Dijk misses the chance as he failed to kick the ball

57' Salah's shot stopped by goalkeeper

66' Luiz Diaz & Jones on, Mac Allister & Szoboszlai on

69' Cody Gakpo equalizes for Reds! Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

72' Reds comeback just in 3 MINUTES as Salah scores! Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

77' Endo on, Nunez off

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Darwin Núñez, Gravenberch

Subs: W. Endo, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Luis Díaz, Curtis Jones, Vitezslav Jaros, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Tyler Morton

Brighton XI: Welbeck, Veltman, Pervis Estupiñán, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Igor, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Yasin Ayari, Jack Hinshelwood

Subs: Steele, Jakub Moder, Tariq Lamptey, Mats Wieffer, Julio Enciso, Evan Ferguson, Simon Adingra, Carlos Baleba, Brajan Gruda