Chronicle Editor
THE perfect day looked far beyond Liverpool when they trudged off at half-time battered and bruised by an upwardly mobile Brighton. But a perfect day it proved for Arne Slot’s side, who climbed back to the top of the Premier League courtesy of a second-half transformation and another stupendous goal from the Mohamed Salah collection.
Salah curled a trademark winner into the top corner of Bart Verbruggen’s net, two minutes after Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Ferdi Kadioglu’s first half opener, to move ahead of Robbie Fowler as the eighth leading goalscorer in the Premier League era. More importantly, with Manchester City and Arsenal both losing, it moved Liverpool two points clear of the champions at the summit and seven above Mikel Arteta’s struggling side.
Brighton’s slender interval lead flattered Liverpool enormously. Fabian Hürzeler’s side were superior in every department and passed their way around Liverpool’s press with style and confidence.
A two-goal advantage would have been a more accurate reflection of the visitors’ dominance. The majority of the Anfield crowd were unable to disguise their anger at the home performance and, though a rare occurrence, it was understandable on the evidence of a first half that left Slot regularly blowing out his cheeks in disbelief.
It fuelled the release that was to come.
Gomez had a great chance within seconds of his arrival but headed a Kostas Tsimikas free-kick straight at Verbruggen.
The Brighton keeper made two excellent saves as Liverpool went close to equalising three times in as many minutes. First, he reacted well to tip away a diving header from Mac Allister that was destined for the bottom corner.
Then, moments after Van Dijk had failed to connect with a brilliant Alexander-Arnold cross six yards out, Verbruggen managed to get a hand to Salah’s chip after Núñez played his fellow striker through on goal.
The Brighton goal was finally breached by an element of good fortune and Liverpool’s perseverance.
Gakpo curled over an inswinging cross from the left that just missed the head of the impressive Jan Paul van Hecke, and Núñez behind him, before nestling inside the far post. Slot had introduced Curtis Jones and Luis Díaz minutes earlier, switching to a diamond in midfield, and his substitutions were instrumental in blowing the roof of Anfield as Liverpool struck again two minutes later.
Jones led a break from the edge of the Liverpool area and exchanged passes with Díaz before releasing Salah on the right.
The Egyptian king did what he does best, cutting inside his marker, in this case Pervis Estupiñán, and curling a stunning, unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner. Some way to go top.
Meanwhile Jordan Ayew’s stoppage-time equaliser denied Ipswich a first Premier League win of the season as Leicester snatched a 1-1 draw.
Ipswich were on course for their first three points in the top flight since April 2002 when a superb volley from Leif Davis put them ahead. But the home side had Kalvin Phillips sent off with 13 minutes remaining and the 10 men were unable to hold on.
Ayew’s last-gasp strike meant Kieran McKenna’s immensely watchable side have squandered a lead five times in 10 league matches this season.
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Leicester, with their manager, Steve Cooper, serving a touchline ban, should have gone ahead in the third minute when Jamie Vardy got in behind Ipswich’s back four. But the 37-year-old opted to square the ball rather than shoot and Stephy Mavididi made a mess of his finish.
Moments later Leicester almost gifted the hosts a goal when Jannik Vestergaard miscontrolled a pass from goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Omari Hutchinson nicked the ball away from the defender and stood up an inviting cross for Sam Szmodics, who headed wastefully over. – The Observer
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Bongani Ndlovu