19 MAY 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 LIVERPOOL 2
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
For their final home game of the 2024-2025 Premier campaign, the Albion welcomed this season's Champions, Liverpool to the Amex, the game being covered "live" by Sky Sports and broadcast by Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out, the Albion had won 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier on the 10 May and for the visit of Liverpool the Albion made 2 changes to their starting line-up from the Wolves game, with Brajan Gruda and Simon Adingra coming in for Tariq Lamptey and Matt O'Riley.
In their previous outing, Liverpool had drawn 2-2 at home to Arsenal in the Premier on the 11 May and for their visit to the Amex, Liverpool Head Coach Arne Slot made four changes to his starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa replacing Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz.
In their two meetings in the Premier last season, the teams drew 2-2 at the Amex on the 8 October 2023, with Simon Adingra (20m) and Lewis Dunk (78m) scoring for the Seagulls and Mohamed Salah 2 (40m & 45+1m, penalty) netting for the Pool. In the return fixture at Anfield on the 31 March 2024 Liverpool won 2-1 with their goals coming from Luis Diaz (27m) and Mohamed Salah (65m), after Danny Welbeck (2m) had opened the scoring for the Albion.
The teams had already met twice this season, on the 30 October 2024 at the Amex in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup when it finished 3-2 to Liverpool and on the 2 November 2024 at Anfield in the Premier when Liverpool won 2-1, with their goals being scored by Cody Gakpo (69m) and Mohamed Salah (72m) whilst Albion's goal came from Ferdi Kadioglu (14m).
Liverpool started brightly and Cody Gakpo spurned an early chance when he sent a shot wide of the post. The visitors took the lead on nine minutes when a fine move involving Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Conor Bradley ended with Harvey Elliott scoring from close-in. 0-1.
Captain Danny Welbeck then got on the end of Yankuba Minteh's cross from the right but his header just missed the target. Albion equalised on 32 minutes when Brajan Gruda's neat pass found Yasin Ayari who composed himself before scoring with a low right-foot shot. 1-1.
In time added on, the Pool restored their lead, when from a free-kick taken on the right Szoboszlai unleashed a rocket of a shot which flew into the top of the net past a surprised Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal. 1-2. A first-half shaded by the newly-crowned Champions.
Half-time 1-2.
The second-half opened with Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker making a fine save from a Welbeck free-kick and then Gruda's shot brought out the best in the Brazilian stopper. Salah then fired wide from Gakpo's cross, when he should have done better. The end-to-end nature of the game continued as keeper Alisson saved from Welbeck and at the other end Verbruggen made an excellent save to deny Salah.
Kaoru Mitoma substituted for Simon Adingra on 65 minutes and within four minutes the Japanese international had equalised for the Seagulls as he scored from close-range after keeper Alisson had pushed out Welbeck's shot. 2-2.
Harry Howell (17) came on as a substitute for Welbeck on 84 minutes for his Albion debut and a minute later the Seagulls took the lead when two fellow substitutes combined as Matt O'Riley crossed from the left and there was Jack Hinshelwood to sweep the ball home. A VAR check was overcome and the Amex faithful went wild with delight. 3-2. The Albin saw out the remaining minutes to record an excellent win.
Final-score 3-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 25 attempts at goal, with 12 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
Liverpool had 18 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
VERDICT - A thrilling win for the Albion to end their home programme. The Seagulls produced a fine performance to defeat this season's Champions to send their supporters home in an optimistic mood for next season. It will be an interesting close-season at the Amex.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER, Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA, Yasin AYARI (Diego GOMEZ 73); Yankuba MINTEH (Jack HINSHELWOOD 84), Brajan GRUDA (Matt O'RILEY 73), Simon ADINGRA (Kaoru MITOMA 65); Danny WELBECK (Capt) (Harry HOWELL 84).
Subs not used: Carl RUSHWORTH (G/K), Joel VELTMAN, Lewis DUNK, Igor JULIO.
Liverpool line-up (4-2-3-1):- ALISSON Becker; Conor BRADLEY (Wataru ENDO 77), Ibrahima KONATE, Jarell QUANSAH, Kostas TSIMIKAS; Ryan GRAVENBERCH, Dominik SZOBOSZLAI (Curtis JONES 63); Mohamed SALAH (Capt), Harvey ELLIOTT, Cody GAKPO (Luis DIAZ 63); Federico CHIESA (Darwin NUNEZ 63). Subs not used: Caoimhin KELLEHER (G/K), Trent ALEXANDER-ARNOILD, Virgil VAN DIJK, Joe GOMEZ, Andrew ROBERTSON.
Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).
Fourth Official: Darren Bond.
VAR Official: Darren England.
Yellow Card: Albion: 1 - Adam Webster.
Possession: Albion - 49%. Liverpool - 51%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Albion).
Attendance: 31611.
FINAL GAME:
25 MAY 2025 - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Away - Premier League - kick-off 16.00.
Jack Kaye.
22 May 2025.