Salah Strike beats Brighton to lead Liverpool

(MENAFN– Peninsula) AFP

Liverpool: Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 to top the table Premier League thanks to Mohamed Salah’s stunning winner at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds deservedly conceded at half-time after Ferdi Kadioglu’s delightful strike.

But two quick goals from Cody Gakpo and Salah punished Brighton for failing to make the most of their first-half dominance.

Liverpool’s 13th win in 15 matches under Arne Slot moved them two points clear of Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at Bournemouth.

Both teams have changed a lot since the pair’s League Cup match on Wednesday, which Liverpool won 3-2.

Despite the Reds returning a host of stars including Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was the Seagulls who dominated the first half and should have been out of sight before the break.

Liverpool’s only clear goal in the opening 45 minutes came when Darwin Nunez ran from his own half into the Brighton penalty area and saw Bart Verbruggen save brilliantly.

Kadioglu opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a quick right-foot shot off the inside of the post.

Liverpool were again without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to injury, but backup Caoimhin Kelleher made a vital save to prevent Brighton doubling their lead.

Jack Hinshelwood’s superb pass split the Liverpool defense and set up Georginio Rutter behind Virgil van Dijk, but the Frenchman was unable to beat Kelleher.

Kadioglu took another big chance to make it 2-0 before Danny Welbeck’s free-kick found the side net.

Liverpool had to make a change at half-time when Ibrahima Konate dropped off with his arm in a sling and was replaced by Joe Gomez.

The England defender should have made an immediate impact as he fired straight at Verbruggen after being missed from a free-kick.

Slot’s team talk at half-time had the desired effect: Liverpool broke out of the blocks and the team transformed in the second half.

Alexis Mac Allister headed in at Verbruggen’s near post before Van Dijk missed the target when Alexander-Arnold’s cross was saved.

Brighton kept Salah quiet for an hour, but the Egyptian should have punished the visitors when he sped up on Nunez’s shot and failed to beat Verbruggen one-on-one.

It took a bit of luck for the home side to start the comeback as Gakpo’s attempted shot was fired into the far corner without receiving a touch.

With Anfield now in raptures, it took Slote’s men just three minutes to find the winner.

Following Rutter’s poor effort down one side, Liverpool broke through with speed as Curtis Jones found Salah, who cut inside with his trusty left foot and curled into the top corner.

Brighton pushed back the hosts in a nervy finale but Liverpool held on for a vital three points on a day when title rivals City and Arsenal, beaten 1-0 at Newcastle, both stumbled.

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