2 NOVEMBER 2024 -
LIVERPOOL 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL.
Following the Carabao Cup game on the 30 October, it was Liverpool again, this time in the Premier at Anfield, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous Premier League game the Albion drew 2-2 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 26 October and for their visit to Anfield the Albion made one change to their starting line-up from that game, with the fit-again Jack Hinshelwood replacing Carlos Baleba in midfield.
The previous mid-week saw the teams meet in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round on the 30 October at the Amex when Liverpool won 3-2 in a bit of a thriller.
Last time out in the Premier Liverpool had drawn 2-2 at Arsenal on the 27 October and for Albion's visit the Reds made three changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Kostas Tsimikas, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo replacing Andrew Robertson, Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz.
Last season in the Premier, it was 2-2 at the Amex on the 8 October 2023, with Albion's goals being scored by Simon Adingra (20m) and Lewis Dunk (78m) whilst Liverpool's goals came from Mohamed Salah 2 (40m & 45+1m. penalty). In the return game at Anfield on the 31 March 2024 the Reds won 2-1 with their goals coming from Luis Diaz (27m) and Mohamed Salah (65m) following Danny Welbeck's (2m) opener.
The Seagulls and the Reds were meeting for the second time in four days, this time at Anfield in the Premier, with three points at stake. First chance fell to Liverpool as Darwin Nunez's individual run ended in the Albion penalty area from where his fierce volley saw Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen produce a fine save in tipping the ball around the post. The Seagulls were producing some slick football and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 14 minutes when Kaoru Mitoma's left-wing run ended with a cross to the far post where Ferdi Kadioglu smashed a stunner of a shot past Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher from 12 yards out. It was Kadioglu's first goal in the Premier. 1-0.
The Albion continued to impress and they came close to increasing their lead when Yasin Ayari's superb through pass sent Georginio Rutter clear of the Reds back-line but Kelleher made a fine save to deny the Seagulls striker. Mitoma then sent a cross into the path of Kadioglu but the Turkish international sent his shot over the crossbar and minutes later Danny Welbeck saw his free-kick miss the target by inches. An excellent first-half by the Albion and they should have been more than one goal ahead at the break.
Half-time 1-0.
Liverpool made an enforced substitution at the start of the second-half, with Joe Gomez replacing the injured Ibrahima Konate and immediately Gomez saw his header from Kostas Tsimikas's cross easily saved by keeper Verbruggen. The Reds were now in offensive mood and Verbruggen was again in action as he palmed Alexis Mac Allister's goal-bound header around the post. It was now Verbruggen versus Liverpool as the Dutch keeper made a fine save to thwart Liverpool Captain Virgil van Dijk and then made an even better save to deny Mohamed Salah after the winger raced clear of the Brighton defence. The Reds pressure eventually paid off on 69 minutes when Cody Gakpo's cross from the left eluded everyone in the box and ended up in the Albion net for a cross from the left eluded everyone in the box and ended up in the Albion net for a fortunate Reds equaliser. 1-1.
Two minutes later substitutes Luis Diaz and Curtis Jones combined to send Salah on his way and the Egyptian got the better of his marker Pervis Estupinan before curling a superb left-foot shot past the helpless Verbruggen. 1-2. The Reds saw out the remaining minutes of the game comfortably and the weekend results saw Liverpool achieve top place in the Premier. On the balance of play in this game Albion deserved at least a draw.
Final-score 1-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 13 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 18.
Liverpool had 16 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 10 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
VERDICT - Over the 90 minutes Albion deserved at least a point from this game. Albion bossed the first-half and could have been 3 goals in front at half-time. Also, Liverpool's first goal was a bit of a fluke, as the scorer Cody Gakpo admitted in a post-match interview. The Seagulls first-half performance was probably their best of the season, so far.
Champiions Manchester City pitch up at the Amex this weekend.
Albion line-up (4-4-2):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN (Brajan GRUDA 76), Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Igor JULIO, Pervis ESTUPINAN; Ferdi KADIOGLU (Jakub MODER 87), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Evan FERGUSON 88), Yasin AYARI (Mats WIEFFER 76), Kaoru MITOMA (Simon ADINGRA 87); Georginio RUTTER, Danny WELBECK (Capt).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Tariq LAMPTEY, Carlos BALEBA, Julio ENCISO.
Liverpool line-up (4-2-3-1):- Caoimhin KELLEHER; Trent ALEXANDER-ARNOLD, Ibrahima KONATE (Joe GOMEZ 46), Virgil Van DIJK (Capt), Kostas TSIMIKAS; Ryan GRAVENBERCH, Alexis MACALLISTER (Curtis JONES 66); Mohamed SALAH (Conor BRADLEY 91), Dominik SZOBOSZLAI (Luis DIAZ 66), Cody GAKPO; Darwin NUNEZ (Wataru ENDO 77).
Subs not used: Vitezslav JAROS (G/K), Jarell QUANSAH, Andrew ROBERTSON, Tyler MORTON.
Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).
Fourth Official: Robert Madley.
VAR Official: Chris Kavanagh.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Ferdi Kadioglu. Liverpool: 1 - Alexis Mac Allister.
Possession: Albion - 51%. Liverpool - 49%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Attendance: 60331.
NEXT GAME:
9 NOVEMBER 2024 - MANCHESTER CITY - Home - Premier League - kick-off 17.30. "Live" on Sky Sports.
Jack Kaye.
