Report and free match highlights as Liverpool set a new record of reaching 30 Premier League wins in the fewest number of games (34)
Mohamed Salah scored twice for Liverpool as they beat a plucky Brighton side 3-1, ending the Premier League champions’ recent scoring drought on the road.
Liverpool had failed to score in their last five away games in all competitions – not winning on the road since February – but this strange run was quickly halted when Salah (6) and Jordan Henderson (8) found the net early on.
But Brighton were unfazed by their league-winning opponents, or the scoreline, and ran Liverpool close for much of the game, deservedly cutting their deficit in half after a fine finish from Leandro Trossard (44) just before the break.
However, Liverpool’s quality saw them restore their two-goal lead in the 76th minute as Salah nodded home from an Andy Robertson corner to maintain their 23-point cushion over Manchester City in second. Brighton remain in 15th, nine points clear of the relegation places.
How Liverpool rediscovered their winning touch away from home
Liverpool sucker-punched Brighton with two quick goals inside eight minutes. The Seagulls were punished for trying to play out from the back as Mat Ryan picked out Davy Propper on the edge of the area, but the Dutchman lingered on the ball for too long, allowing a spritely Naby Keita to nip in and steal possession. His squared pass was then an easy, slotted finish for Salah’s first goal.
Keita was the instigator again not long after, nicking the ball away from Dale Stephens in midfield and setting Roberto Firmino on a driving run towards the area before picking out Salah. The Egyptian was surrounded by defenders but spotted an unmarked Henderson, tapping the ball in for him to fire home with a low shot.
But Brighton responded well and had their own chances. In the 20th minute, Trossard’s attempted shot was sent flying over the crossbar by the leaping body of Neco Williams. Soon after, Alisson made a smothering save as Neal Maupay tried to send the ball home at the near post with Keita sending the rebounded ball behind for a corner.
The hosts finally got their reward on the stroke of half-time. Tariq Lamptey had looked bright down the right flank – up against fellow 19-year-old Williams – and was set away once again by a slotted Pascal Gross pass. His fizzing cross was then turned home by Trossard, who hit a wonderful volley with his first touch to beat Alisson and pull a deserved goal back for Brighton.