5 talking points as Liverpool squander 2-0 lead to draw with Brighton

Brighton produced a spirited comeback against Liverpool to leave Anfield with a point.

The Seagulls are flying high this term and they showed exactly why as they battled back from 2-0 down to return south with a point.

Jordan Henderson opened the scoring after just three minutes as he thundered a shoot into the top corner in front of the Kop.

Mo Salah became provider having been the scorer so often over the past few weeks.

Sadio Mane doubled the hosts' lead with a header before Enock Mwepu's cross come shot deceived Alisson to bring Brighton back into the contest.

The Seagulls claimed a shock victory at Liverpool last season and were hoping to repeat the feat.

Graham Potter's side continued to be a threat and Alisson needed to make several big saves throughout the contest.

Leandro Trossard's equaliser after 65 minutes was more than deserved, as was Brighton's point.

Here are five talking points from Anfield.

Leandro Trossard grabbed Brighton's equaliser

1 Reality check

Smash Manchester United for five one week, draw with Brighton the next. Football's a funny old game.

Go back six days and the Reds produced an incredibly clinical display to humiliate their arch rivals.

It looked to be business as usual once again after half an hour as Liverpool were 2-0 up and cruising.

Cruising though is a dangerous place to be, especially against a team who have nothing to lose.

Brighton stuck to their principles and were more than deserving of their equaliser just after the hour and looked the team more likely to find a winner.

2 The run ends

Mo Salah has rewritten Liverpool history in recent weeks after scoring in 10 consecutive games.

Last time out he grabbed a hat-trick during the demolition job at Old Trafford.

Many currently see Salah as the world's best player, with the Reds under pressure to tie the Egyptian down to a new long-term deal.

But against Brighton the prolific forward could not find the net, which comes as something of a shock given his recent form.

Instead Mane took over, grabbing Liverpool's second whilst Salah laid on teammate Henderson for the opener.

Don't expect the 29-year-old to be missing from the scoresheet for too long though.

Jordan Henderson had opened the scoring early on

3 Upwardly mobile

Brighton arrived at Anfield sitting in fifth following an impressive start to the campaign.

Nevertheless, they were rank outsiders and their development was never going to be based on the result, although they won't mind if it is.

The performance was more of a barometer - could they trouble this Liverpool team and continue to show ambition. Well the answer is a resounding yes.

The Reds were two goals ahead before half an hour which meant a tough task was even harder.

Brighton weren't put off though and scored twice with Trossard silencing the Kop to level the clash.

Seeing the Seagulls so high up the table may raise eyebrows, but on this form they are more likely to bother the top teams, rather than worry about those battling the drop.

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4 Bissouma's sales pitch

The Mali international has been linked with a move away from the Amex on several occasions over the past 12 months.

He's established himself as one of Brighton's most impressive performers and claimed earlier this year he thought he was the best midfielder in the Premier League.

Rumours last term saw him touted as a Liverpool target and a potential replacement for Gini Wijnaldum.

If Bissouma does have his sights set on a move away then performances like this will do him no harm.

The manner in which he imposed himself on the game is an asset for any team and he saw a first-half effort rebound off the post.

Brighton have certainly unearthed a diamond, but with Bissouma playing like this right in front of Klopp offers may not be far away.

Naby Keita was forced off in the first-half

5 Keita concerns

The Guinean was stretchered off at Old Trafford last Sunday but was straight back into the starting XI this afternoon.

He was forced off after 20 minutes however and the "why" question will inevitably be asked.

Yes Klopp is light on midfielders such is his injury list but to start with a player who had been in discomfort this week must go down as a gamble that hasn't paid off.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench and immediately provided an excellent assist to underline his quality.

With a player of his calibre available and fully fit opting to go with Keita from the start was a risk that didn't need to be taken, especially with the fixtures coming thick and fast.