Liverpool 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( xxxii )
31 MARCH 2024
LIVERPOOL 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL.
Back from the fourth and last international break, the Albion were off to Merseyside for a Premier League clash with high-flyers Liverpool at Anfield, "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.
Albion's last visit to Anfield, on the 1 October 2022, was also Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge of the Seagulls and which turned out to be a thrilling 3-3 draw. Since then the Albion had enjoyed two wins and one draw against the Reds. In their last outing the Albion had a 1-0 home win over AS Roma in the Europa League on the 14 March and for the visit to Anfield, the Albion made three changes to their starting line-up from the AS Roma game, with Joel Veltman, Carlos Baleba and Jakub Moder coming in for Billy Gilmour (injured), Adam Lallana and Julio Enciso (injured).
In their previous game, Liverpool had lost 3-4 at Manchester United after extra time in a Quarter-Final FA Cup tie at Old Trafford on the 17 March and for Albion's visit Manager Jurgen Klopp made one change to his starting line-up from that game, with Conor Bradley replacing the injured Andy Robertson.
Earlier this season, in the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 8 October 2023, the teams drew 2-2, with Simon Adingra (20m) and Lewis Dunk (78m) netting for the Seagulls. Mohamed Salah 2 (40m & 45+1m. penalty) scored Liverpool's goals. Last season the teams met three times. drawing 3-3 a Anfield on the 1 October 2022 with Leandro Trossard (4m. 17m & 83m) netting a hat-trick whilst Liverpool's goals came from Roberto Firmino 2 (33m & 54m) and Adam Webster (63m. own goal).
There were two meetings at the Amex in January 2023. on the 14 January the Albion won 3-0 in the Premier with the goals coming from Solly March 2 (46m & 53m) and Danny Welbeck (81m). On the 29 January the Seagulls won 2-1 in a FA Cup Fourth Round tie, with Lewis Dunk (39m) and Kaoru Mitoma (90+2m) netting for the Albion after Harvey Elliott (30m) had opened the scoring for the Reds. .
With LIverpool looking for a win to take them back to the summit of the Premier League, it was the Albion who made a brilliant start as they took the lead within ninety seconds of the start when Simon Adingra raced down the let and his cross eventually found Danny Welbeck some 18 yards out and the striker contrived to send a bullet of a shot into the top of the net, giving LIverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher no chance. 1-0. This early setback sparked the home side into life and various chances were created and not taken by the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. Eventually Liverpool's pressure paid off on 27 minutes when Joel Veltman's attempted clearance fell to Diaz some six yards out who gratefully smashed the ball home for the equaliser. 1-1.
To their credit the Seagulls fought back and efforts by Welbeck and Jakub Moder went close to restoring Albiion's lead. At the other end Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen made a smart save from Nunez. A good first-half for the Seagulls who had competed well against their illustrious opponents.
Half-time 1-1.
Liverpool were fast out of the traps at the start of the second-half and former Albion midfielder Alexis MacAllister went close with a header from a Nunez cross. The Seagulls were coping well with the pressure being inflicted upon them but on 65 minutes they fell behind as Mac Allister's through ball found the lively Salah who slotted the ball past keeper Verbruggen from close-in. 1-2.
Thereafter Diaz had a goal chalked off for offside. Verbruggen was then called into action, deflecting a goal-bound shot from Salah. The Albion bounced back and Kelleher made a good reflex save in keeping out Lewis Dunk's header and substitute Adam Lallana, back at his former club. sent a shot narrowly wide of the target. Prior to the final whistle Verbruggen made a fine stop to keep out Salah's volley and Welbeck was denied by a Virgil Van Dijk intervention.
A spirited display by the Albion but they couldnt stop the Reds going back to the top of the Premier.
Final-score 1-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 9 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 6.
Liverpool had 30 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded - 20.
TO SUM UP -
After an excellent start the Albion finally succumbed to the Liverpool machine by the odd goal in three. The Albin competed well throughout the contest with Captain Lewis Dunk outstanding at the heart of the Seagulls' defence. Albion can now concentrate on finishing in a European spot for next season.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan (Valentin Barco 90+2); Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba; Tariq Lamptey (Facundo Buonanotte 70), Jakub Moder (Adam Lallana 83), Simon Adingra (Evan Ferguson 83); Danny Welbeck.
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Adam Webster, Igor Julio, Ansu Fati, Samy Chouchane.
Liverpool line-up ((4-3-3):- Caoimhin Kelleher; Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Virgil Van Dijk (Capt), Joe Gomez; Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai (Ryan Gravenberch 90+4); Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez (Harvey Elliott 83), Luis Diaz (Cody Gakpo 89).
Subs not used: Adrian (G/K), Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jayden Danns.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 3 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Pascal Gross, Danny Welbeck.
Liverpool: 5 - Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo.
Possession: Albion - 46%. Liverpool - 54%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool).
Attendance: 60061.
NEXT GAME:
6th April - Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal at the Amex Stadium Falmer.
Jack Kaye.
3 April 2024.