Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League after netting twice in three second-half minutes to see off Brighton.
Ferdi Kadioglu gave Brighton a deserved first-half lead and the visitors seemed in control until Liverpool upped the tempo midway through the second period.
Cody Gakpo, who scored twice in Liverpool’s win at the Amex Stadium in the EFL Cup in midweek, scored a slightly fortuitous equaliser before Mohamed Salah netted with a piece of trademark brilliance to complete the comeback.
With Manchester City losing at Bournemouth, Arne Slot’s men are now two points clear at the summit after 10 games.
GET IN THERE!!! ✊🔴 #LIVBHA pic.twitter.com/4MFnPyoN1A
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 2, 2024
Brighton started in confident fashion, stroking the ball round with the assurance of a side that had lost just three of 10 previous meetings with Liverpool.
They had to rely on goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to keep the scores level after nine minutes, however, following some lovely play from Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguay international flicked the ball over a defender’s head in the centre circle before bursting forward. He ran into the area and was only denied a sensational goal by Verbruggen’s outstretched hand.
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Brighton stun Anfield
It seemed Liverpool were gaining the upper hand only for Brighton to score from their next attack.
A long passing move culminated in Danny Welbeck guiding the ball on to Kadioglu and the Turkey international lashed a brilliant low drive past Caoimhin Kelleher in the Liverpool goal.
Brighton continued to press and only a smart save from Kelleher prevented Georginio Rutter from making it 2-0 after he ran on to Yasin Ayari’s long ball.
Liverpool were struggling to get their usual fluid passing game going but they remained a threat from set-pieces and some fine defending denied Ibrahima Konate from latching on to Kostas Tsimikas’ corner.
Welbeck almost conjured up a clever Brighton goal at the other end, the former Manchester United striker whipping a free-kick into the side netting with Kelleher stranded.
A half-time roasting from Slot?
No doubt with Slot’s words burning their ears, Liverpool started the second half on the front foot and substitute Joe Gomez, a half-time replacement for Konate, ought to have done better than head Tsimikas’ free-kick straight at Verbruggen.
Pervis Estupinan almost headed into his own net as Liverpool continued to press with Verbruggen then producing another stunning stop to keep out a header from former Brighton man Alexis Mac Allister.
Verbruggen then had to be alert to dash off his line and smother an effort from Salah.
Double delight for Liverpool
The Anfield crowd sensed a goal was coming and they were proved right, albeit it came with an element of fortune – Nunez ducking under Gakpo’s 69th-minute cross and the ball flying straight into the bottom right-hand corner.
Brighton were rocking and Liverpool immediately made then pay with a quickfire second. Salah picked the ball up on the right flank, cut inside and curled a brilliant shot into the top corner.
Gomez almost added a third after getting on the end of another Tsimikas cross but it was easy for Verbruggen.
Brighton had plenty of the ball in the closing stages but Kelleher was not seriously threatened as Liverpool held on.
