Brighton vs Liverpool - Limping Across The Finish Line: Liverpool Falls To Brighton 3-2

For the second time in as many games, Liverpool could not hold a second-half lead. This time they surrendered goals in the 69th and 85th minutes to go down to defeat 3-2 vs. a Brighton side who admittedly played well all game.

First Half

Cody Gakpo nearly scored in the first minute, but he put the shot wide. Mohamed Salah forced a save in the eighth minute as the Reds dominated the early going. The goal came in the 9th minute when newly signed Conor Bradley cut a ball back to Harvey Elliott for the tap-in for a 1-0 lead.

Brighton did a better job in possession over the next segment of the game, but several nice plays by the back line kept Liverpool in front. A strong defensive header from Gakpo in the 25th minute kept the clean sheet for the moment.

It did not last long, though, as a through ball found Yasin Ayari, who floated a shot over the Liverpool defence in the 32nd minute to equalise at 1-1. The match looked to be heading to halftime tied, but Dominik Szoboszlai had other ideas. He put a free kick over the wall and in the back of the net on the last kick of the half for a 2-1 Liverpool lead.

First Half Analysis

That was a fun half. Both Liverpool and Brighton had good spells of possession, and it resulted in a pair of spectacular goals. It was a fairly open first half as well and both teams had plenty of chances. Hopefully, the Reds' defence can tighten up and bring home the three points.

Second Half

The second half got off to a cracking start. Alisson made a pair of saves. The second save started a counterattack nearly leading to a third goal, but Salah missed an open net. Salah also forced a tough save near the hour mark.

Those missed opportunities came back to haunt the Reds. The Seagulls subs played well during their time on the pitch and produced a pair of goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood. Hinshelwood’s game-winner came in the 85th minute and was initially ruled offside but then given after a VAR check. Darwin Nunez nearly scored an equaliser just before stoppage time, but the shot in front of goal was blocked away.

Second Half Analysis

Well, the defence could not hold it. I think that shows how much we missed the captain, Virgil van Dijk, at the centre-back position. I know he is under contract for a few more seasons, but we need to bring in reliable replacements who can fill in when the matches do matter.

Notes

Mohamed Salah made his 400th appearance for the club, and Liverpool also set the record for most away goals in a single season at 44.

Szoboszlai Says

Domonik Szoboszlai makes my point below for me when he says:

“I cannot say we are very sad, but of course, we didn't come here to lose. We wanted to win. I think we showed also in the first, probably 70 minutes, that we wanted to show up and get the three points and take it home. But in the end, we faced a really tough Brighton team. To be honest, they deserved to win because at the end they worked harder than us, they scored more goals than us, and it looks like they wanted more.”

There needs to be a change in the system to incentivise the players to play well at the end of the season, or you get performances like Liverpool have turned in the last few weeks

LFC Globe Verdict

I normally use this space to discuss records that were set, stats from the match and share a quote from Arne Slot or a player. I’m not going to do as much of that. I want to take the extra space to offer my opinion and be a bit critical. That criticism is not specifically of Liverpool, but of the way the European system of football is set up.

When a team is locked in their spot on the table, there is nothing left to play for. It’s different across the pond in America. If a team has locked up first place with four matches to go in the MLS season, they still have plenty to play for. That’s because our Championships are decided after the season is over instead of in the middle of it. A North American Club would still have to stay sharp and play their best players because a champion is decided after the regular season is over, thanks to a playoff system. The team that finishes top of the table rarely lifts the trophy as champions at season’s end. I like it better this way. It gives teams an incentive to keep their best players sharp at the end of the year because one bad game in the playoffs and you are eliminated. You want to be playing your best football at the end of the year, and Liverpool are not. It’s not the Reds' fault. It’s just the way the system is set up.

Man Of The Match

I’m going with Conor Bradley. He had an assist on the opening goal, a superb defensive header and should have gotten a second assist had Salah been able to finish.