Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Liverpool2 - 1Brighton

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 November 2024, 16:55
Liverpool are back in control of the Premier League title race thanks to a 2-1 come-from-behind success against a spirited Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.

A few days on from their thrilling 3-2 EFL Cup win over the Seagulls, the hosts were a shadow of their usual selves in the first half as Ferdi Kadioglu gave Brighton a merited lead, but second-45 responses from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah completed a terrific Liverpool turnaround as Arne Slot's side regained top spot in the table.

The thousands of Reds fans flocking to Anfield should have done so with grins etched across their faces, as title rivals Arsenal slipped up at St James' Park and fell to a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United in the day's lunchtime kickoff, giving Liverpool the chance to move seven points clear of the Gunners.

However, Slot's men initially showed nothing to suggest that they could capitalise on Arsenal's mishaps, as Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton exploded out of the blocks and deservedly went ahead early doors through a fizzing Kadioglu strike.

The Liverpool response to Brighton's deserved opener was non-existent; the Merseyside giants were being played off the park and bullied by the men in blue and white, whose marauding left-back Kadioglu missed a golden chance to double the visitors' lead later in the second half.

As Paul Merson on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday put it, a lethargic Liverpool were "giving the ball away for fun", but they were noticeably more at the races in the second half following a dressing-room dressing-down from Slot.

It felt like a matter of time before the Reds registered in front of the Kop, and so it proved, as Gakpo's inswinging cross evaded everyone and left Bart Verbruggen blind-sided and deservedly brought the hosts level.

Sparked into life by Gakpo's somewhat lucky equaliser, Liverpool stormed forward again and completed the turnaround though a trademark Salah left-footer, before withstanding some more late pressure from their plucky visitors.

Courtesy of Manchester City's surprise loss at Bournemouth, Liverpool have opened up a two-point lead over the champions in first place, while Brighton now occupy seventh after their first loss in four PL games.

LIVERPOOL VS. BRIGHTON HIGHLIGHTS

Ferdi Kadioglu goal vs. Liverpool (14th min, Liverpool 0-1 Brighton)

Any Liverpool fans smirking at the Arsenal result have had their smiles wiped off their faces now!

Brighton had made the brighter start and deservedly lead through a fine strike from Kadioglu, who drives the ball across goal and in off the post after Danny Welbeck got the slightest of touches on Kaoru Mitoma's cutback.

Cody Gakpo goal vs. Brighton (69th min, Liverpool 1-1 Brighton)

It never matters how they go in, they just need to go in! Liverpool have been firmly on top in the second half, and their endeavours are rewarded in slightly unorthodox fashion.

Gakpo delivers a cross from the left, which is seemingly begging to be met by Darwin Nunez, but the Dutchman's ball instead evades the South American and everybody else en route to the far corner!

Mohamed Salah goal vs. Brighton (72nd min, Liverpool 2-1 Brighton)

Like London buses!

Just three minutes after Gakpo's fortuitous leveller, the Reds finally have the advantage, and it is a quintessential finish from Salah, who cuts inside Pervis Estupinan and bends one into the top corner.

A brilliant response, but where was this Liverpool side in the first half?

MAN OF THE MATCH - KOSTAS TSIMIKAS

The man who has been second fiddle throughout his five seasons at Liverpool, Kostas Tsimikas benefitted from some necessary rotation and left it all out on the Anfield turf in a battling performance.

The 'Greek Scouser' won all eight of his ground duels - making seven tackles and completing one successful dribble - while also creating two big chances in an exemplary attacking and defensive performance.

LIVERPOOL VS. BRIGHTON MATCH STATS

Possession: Liverpool 49%-51% Brighton

Shots: Liverpool 16-13 Brighton

Shots on target: Liverpool 8-5 Brighton

Corners: Liverpool 10-7 Brighton

Fouls: Liverpool 10-18 Brighton

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Slot's side will be back at Anfield in just three days time for a Champions League blockbuster, as Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen arrive on Merseyside on Tuesday evening, before the Reds welcome Aston Villa to their base on November 9.

As for Brighton, Hurzeler's side have a full week to recover before another daunting clash against a title competitor; they face Manchester City at the Amex next Saturday evening.

Show more

Top News

9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from booking their spot in the Europa League final, Manchester United will resume their Premier League campaign with a home fixture against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich have reportedly moved to the head of the queue for Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has become just the second manager in Manchester United's history to reach a major European final in his first season in charge, matching his fellow Portuguese Jose Mourinho's achievement from the 2016-17 campaign. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that Diogo Dalot "is doing everything to recover" from a calf problem in time to be involved in the Europa League final on May 21. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League season cannot end soon enough for Tottenham Hotspur, who continue their top-flight campaign at home to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul vs. Fenerbahce (Friday, 6.00pm) Round 35 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig kicks off with a clash between Fenerbahce, who are clinging to a slim title hope, and Istanbul Basaksehir, who remain in contention for a European place. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final match of the MLS weekend will see the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps host a surging Los Angeles FC side on Sunday at BC Place Stadium. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of staying in the Bundesliga resting on finishing in the relegation playoff spot, Heidenheim will travel to face Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford is said to have changed agents in order to help a transfer to Barcelona materialise in the summer transfer window. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara's quest for European football goes down to the wire as they play host to Famalicao at the Estadio de Sao Miguel in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not offered Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne a contract ahead of the expiry of his deal in the summer. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Liam Manning labelled referee Oliver Langford's decision to send Rob Dickie off as a 'disgrace' as Bristol City's play-off hopes took a major blow. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly been recommended by former Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eyupspor will look to halt their downward slide when they welcome Kasimpasa to Istanbul on matchday 35 of the Turkish Super Lig. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Ruben Amorim believes that luck, fitness and clinical finishing must go Manchester United's way in order to claim Europa League glory at Tottenham Hotspur's expense. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray continue their march towards another Turkish Super Lig crown when they travel to the Black Sea coast for a clash with an in-form Trabzonspor side in one of the standout fixtures of round 35. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur wrote a new chapter of club history by downing Bodo/Glimt 2-0 to reach the 2024-25 Europa League final. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Second-bottom Saint-Etienne could be relegated from Ligue 1 this weekend when they travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune II to face a Reims side seeking consecutive home wins for the first time this season. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Visitors Borussia Monchengladbach must beat newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Saturday at Allianz Arena to keep their European hopes alive. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea made it to the final of the UEFA Conference League after beating Djurgardens IF 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday evening. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Angers and Strasbourg face off in the penultimate Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Raymond Kopa with much on the line. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will wrap up the 2024-25 season when they welcome Crystal Palace Women to the Joie Stadium for Saturday's contest. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Robert Huth labelled Mikel Arteta 'bitter' and believes his controversial claims could have a detrimental effect on Arsenal. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With European football at stake in the final two matchweeks of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, Werder Bremen will host RB Leipzig at Weserstadion on Saturday. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will fight for European silverware in this season's all-England Europa League final. 8 May 2025 talksport.com The Europa League final is set and we will see an all-English showpiece between Manchester United and Tottenham. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Holstein Kiel could be relegated from the Bundesliga if they lose against Champions League hopefuls Freiburg on Saturday at Holstein-Stadion. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League final with a 4-1 win on the night and 7-1 aggregate victory against Athletic Bilbao, setting up a Battle of Britain clash with Tottenham Hotspur.