Albion recovering form in a
good game at home to Liverpool
8 OCTOBER 2023
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 ( Simon Adringa 1 Lewis Dunk 1 )
LIVERPOOL 2 ( Mohamed Salah 2 ) ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
Albion's hectic football programme continued with a visit from Liverpool in the Premier, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras, the match also being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Albion had achieved a creditable 2-2 draw at Marseille in the Europa League on the 5 October and for Liverpool's visit Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made six changes to his starting line-up from the Marseille game, with Bart Verbruggen, Igor Julio, Carlos Baleba, Simon Adringa, Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson coming in for Jason Steele, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Tariq Lamptey, Mahmoud Dahoud, Ansu Fati and Danny Welbeck - Julio and Baleba were making their first Premier League starts for the Seagulls.
In their previous game, Liverpool had beaten Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 at home in the Europa League on the 5 October and for their visit to the Amex, Manager Jurgen Klopp made six changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz replacing Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota. Alexis Mac Allister was facing the Albion for the first time since leaving the Seagulls for Liverpool in the summer transfer window,
In their meetings in the Premier last season, the teams drew 3-3 at Anfield on the 1 October 2022 in Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge of the Albion. In the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 14 January 2023 the Albion beat Liverpool 3-0, with the goals coming from Solly March 2 (46m & 53m) and Danny Welbeck (81m).
The teams also met a third time at the Amex in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup on the 29 January 2023 when Albion won 2-1 with the goals coming from Lewis Dunk (39m) and Kaoru Mitoma (90+2m) and Harvey Elliott (30m) scoring for Liverpool.
Albion's line-up at the Amex on the 14 January 2023 was (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez; Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk (Capt) (Adam Webster 90+1), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan; Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister (Jeremy Sarmiento 83); Solly March, Aaron Lallana (Joel Veltman 66), Kaoru Mitoma (Tariq Lamptey 90); Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 66).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Deniz Undav.
The Seagulls were fast out of the blocks and early on Lewis Dunk and Joao Pedro had goal-bound efforts blocked by the Liverpool defence. It was no surprise the Albion took the lead on 20 minutes when the quick-thinking Simon Adringa intercepted Virgil Van Dijk's pass from the back to Alexis Mac Allister, ran on and knocked the ball past keeper Alisson from 25 yards out for a well-taken goal. 1-0. Soon thereafter Carlos Baleba made a lung-busting run from his own half before flashing a low shot just wide of the target. The first-half was turned on its' head when the Seagulls gifted Liverpool two goals before the break.
On 40 minutes Dunk's loose pass was picked up by Mac Allister and a swift move involving Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott ended with Mohamed Salah poking the ball home from close-in. 1-1. The visitors were gifted a second goal in time added on when keeper Bart Verbruggen's pass-out went straight to Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai who in turn was fouled by Pascal Gross and Salah calmly fired home the resultant penalty- kick to put his team ahead. 1-2. Albion had shot themselves in the foot big time. Half-time 1-2.
The second-half started with Albion going close to equalising, first Adringa had a shot deflected wide by keeper Alisson and Evan Ferguson placed a shot over the bar after being set-up by Joao Pedro. Liverpool then went close to increasing their lead when substitute Ryan Gravenberch was unlucky to see his well-struck shot hit the post and then Diaz saw his volley flash inches wide. Seagulls claim for a penalty after a Van Dijk handball was turned down by Referee Anthony Taylor but Albion deservedly equalised on 78 minutes when Solly March's well-placed free-kick from the left was turned home by Captain Dunk from close-range. 2-2.
With minutes to go Pedro blasted a gilt-edged chance over the bar from Adringa's pass, when he should have scored.
Final-score 2-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 8 corners,
Free-kicks conceded - 12.
Liverpool had 14 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 1 corner,
free-kicks conceded - 20.
VERDICT - An excellent game at the Amex and the Albion could so easily have grabbed a win, if Joao Pedro had converted Simon Adringa's cross near the end.
Carlos Baleba impressed in his first Premier League start and has the potential to be a Moises Caicedo mark two.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Igor Julio (Jan Paul Van Hecke 63), Solly March; Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba; Simon Adringa, Joao Pedro (Ansu Fati 88), Kaoru MItoma; Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 60).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Adam Webster, Mahmoud Dahoud, Billy Gilmour, Adam Lallana, Jack Hinshelwood.
Liverpool line-up (4-3-3):- Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold (Joe Gomez 80), Joel Matip (Ibrahima Konate 73), Virgil Van Dijk (Capt), Andrew Robertson; Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott (Ryan Gravenberch 46); Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz.
Subs not used: Adrian (G/K), Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas, Luke Chambers, Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 2 - Carlos Baleba, Roberto De Zerbi.
Liverpool: 2 - Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai.
Possession: Albion - 46%. Liverpool - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Attendance: 31752 (new record attendance at the Amex).