Solly March scored a brace to help Brighton produce one of the shocking football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Liverpool knew that if results went against them this weekend, they might drop as far as ninth in the standings and be 10 points off the top four. That should have been enough to spur Jurgen Klopp’s team on as they aim for Champions League football next season, but Brighton outplayed them right away. Danny Welbeck’s volley (81) and Solly March’s double (46, 53) clinched the points on a truly memorable occasion for the club. Roberto De Zerbi’s excellent team rediscovered their range after halftime.
Early in his tenure, De Zerbi suffered the same goal-scoring problem as his predecessor Graham Potter, as his team managed just four goals in his first five games in command. The Seagulls have scored 17 goals in their previous five games under the Italian manager, with Liverpool becoming the most recent casualty of their newfound ruthlessness. When March’s low shot beat Alisson in the first minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold cleared it over the crossbar. Alexander-Arnold later had a dreadful afternoon at the hands of the unstoppable Kaoru Mitoma.
The first half finished scoreless as the Japanese winger, Alexis Mac Allister, who received a hero’s welcome from the home crowd as he made his first Premier League start since winning the World Cup with Argentina, and Evan Ferguson all squandered more Brighton chances. In March, Alisson fouled the hosts, but the penalty was disallowed because the winger was offside. Nevertheless, the hosts got their just reward soon after the break. Joel Matip lost control of the ball deep inside his own half, allowing Mitoma to set up March for a tap-in. Seven minutes later, March doubled his tally with a powerful effort from the edge of the box that gave Alisson no chance.
Robert Sanchez twice denied Mohamed Salah at his near post, ending Liverpool’s lone chance of the first half. The visitors had little chances in the second half before Danny Welbeck put an elegant end to the game by looping the ball over Joe Gomez and shooting past Alisson. Although Cody Gakpo, who was making his first Premier League start, was stopped by Sanchez from close range and Harvey Elliott dragged a good opportunity wide, Liverpool spent the majority of the afternoon advancing toward their own goal as Brighton ran rings around Klopp’s struggling players.
“We made an effort to assist the guys with a variety of organizations. We put them under pressure in the periods when it worked effectively, but we lose the ball far too quickly, so we never really got going,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. “Brighton was superior over the entire 96 and 97 minutes. It was obvious that one squad was prepared to play a really solid game, while the other team had to battle within. The issues remain the same: We lose the ball too easily, we lose the challenges, and we don’t win the crucial moments. It’s entirely my fault that an alternative formation didn’t work out. It was dreadful to witness the result.”
“No, although I was startled by Liverpool’s many tactical situations,” Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said. “For instance, Alexander-Arnold was higher in the first half and only had three defenders. But we came up with different answers. My athletes are incredibly intelligent and are aware of many circumstances. They are aware of their responsibilities on the field in various conditions.”
For more football results, click here
