BRIGHTON 2 VS 1 LIVERPOOL
Brighton – Welbeck 14’, 56’
Liverpool – Kerkez 30’
Pre-Match
Mohamed Salah is out of the team today after picking up at muscle issue against Galatasaray midweek. Don’t love that. Alisson continues being out. The kick-off is delayed by 15 minutes. I’m assuming it’s due to everyone watching BTS’ comeback on Netflix. No? Just me? Either way, the 15 minutes proved extremely useful in this household, allowing me to refill my coffee cup and get comfy.
First Half
Et tu, James Milner?? In the first few minutes,
Milner, playing for Brighton, nicks Hugo Ekitike, who looks to be in some considerable pain. That is not good for Liverpool — not just this game, but the rest of the season. Ekitike is currently Liverpool’s leading goal scorer, and you can tell by his face that he won’t be nabbing anymore for a while.
To rub salt in the wound, a few minutes after Curtis Jones subs in for Ekitike, Brighton scores the first goal of the game. It starts from a bad pass from Mamardashvili that leads to a throw-in. The throw gets headed back towards the goal where Danny Welbeck tucks it away. That was sad.
Frimpong goes down, and I’m getting nervous that it might be one of those games for Liverpool this morning.
Alexis Mac Allister tries a good header in the center of the box, but it’s saved to the bottom right by the goalkeeper.
But then! Liverpool get their turn to capitalize on a defensive mistake from Brighton. A poor headed back pass lands in Milos Kerkez’s path. He has his eyes open to it and gets there first, putting it over the goalkeeper.
Ibrahima Konaté is booked towards the end of the first half for a foul on Welbeck.
Milner nearly gets another goal for his team in added time following a corner. Thankfully, his shot is wide.
The half ends 1-1.
Second Half
The game resumes with the same team. Unfortunately, this leads to the same result. It’s Welbeck again who gets on the end of a dangerous cross and scores Brighton’s second. There was a brief thought that it might be offside, but after a check, the goal stands.
Frimpong is booked and then immediately comes off for Rio Ngumoha in the first change of the game for Liverpool.
After that second goal, Liverpool seem to be awake and putting in the effort. Florian Wirtz sends it to Jones, whose shot is saved by the goalkeeper. Moments later, it’s Mac Allister with a free header that goes wide following a corner.
On the other end, Mamardashvili keeps the game alive with a big save of his own, denying Minteh.
Brighton has a second penalty shout waved off by the referee.
Despite being down, and after a brief push, Liverpool look lost and uninterested in fighting back. Brighton very nearly make it three, but the Reds get let off.
Final Thoughts
Just another day in paradise.
