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)
© Imago
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
© Imago
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
◉ Danny Welbeck
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 2, 2024
◉ Carlos Baleba
◉ Joao Pedro
◉ Georginio Rutter
◉ Yankuba Minteh
◉ Jack Hinshelwood
◉ Simon Adingra
◉ Kaoru Mitoma
◉ Evan Ferguson
◉ Ferdi Kadıoğlu 🆕
Brighton are the first side to have 10 different goalscorers in the Premier League this season. ⚽... pic.twitter.com/JxJFaRlMJQ
Mohamed Salah has now been directly involved in 16 goals in 15 Premier League games vs. Brighton:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 2, 2024
◉ 10 goals
◉ 6 assists
Only against Man Utd (18) has he had a hand in more goals against in the competition.#LIVBHA pic.twitter.com/2VnTIB5s1E
8/10 - Liverpool have now won eight of their 10 Premier League games under Arne Slot (D1 L1), the most ever by a Reds manager in his first 10 top-flight matches in charge of the club. Seamless. pic.twitter.com/J0HWXJLmbB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2024
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.
Ben Knapton
