Brighton defeated Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday, denting the Reds’ hopes of securing a top-four finish for next season’s Champions League.
Arne Slot’s men arrived at the Amex Stadium in high spirits after a 4-0 midweek win over Galatasaray to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, and they carried that momentum into the league.
Danny Welbeck struck in each half to give Brighton their fourth win in five Premier League games, keeping their own European ambitions alive. The 35-year-old’s first-half header, his 11th Premier League goal this season, made him the top English goalscorer in the league.
Liverpool were missing goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and forward Mohamed Salah suffered another early setback when top scorer Hugo Ekitike hobbled off with an apparent dead leg following a challenge from former Reds captain James Milner.
Liverpool equalised in the 30th minute thanks to opportunism from left-back Milos Kerkez, who capitalised on a defensive error by Brighton captain Lewis Dunk.
However, Brighton reclaimed the lead in the 56th minute with Welbeck finishing from Jack Hinshelwood’s precise cross from Yankuba Minteh, a goal confirmed after a VAR review.
The defeat leaves Liverpool fifth, two points behind Aston Villa and one ahead of Chelsea, with top-four qualification still up for grabs.
Meanwhile, their Premier League title defence has faltered, though they remain in the Champions League and will face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals next month.
Alisson Becker confirmed on social media that he will be “out of action for a while.”
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