Danny Welbeck struck twice as Brighton edged Liverpool 2–1 on Saturday, delivering a significant setback to the Reds’ bid for a Champions League place next season.
Arne Slot’s side arrived on the south coast in high spirits after a commanding 4–0 win over Galatasaray in midweek secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. But that momentum was halted by the evergreen Welbeck, whose goals in either half sealed a fourth win in five league matches for Brighton and kept their own European ambitions firmly on track.
Liverpool were already without Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah, and their problems deepened early on when leading scorer Hugo Ekitike limped off with what appeared to be a dead leg following a robust challenge from former Red James Milner.
Brighton took the lead in the 14th minute. Welbeck, now 35, reacted quickest to nod home from close range after Diego Gomez headed a cross back into the danger area, bringing up his 11th Premier League goal of the season, making him the division’s top-scoring English player this term.
Liverpool gradually settled and threatened an equaliser midway through the first half, but Alexis Mac Allister was denied by a sharp low save from Bart Verbruggen. The visitors did draw level on the half-hour mark, however, thanks to alert play from Milos Kerkez. The Hungarian full-back capitalised on a lapse from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, intercepting a careless headed backpass and calmly lifting the ball over the stranded goalkeeper.
Brighton began the second half with renewed intent and regained the lead in the 56th minute. Yankuba Minteh’s precise delivery found Jack Hinshelwood, who cleverly guided the ball into Welbeck’s path for a composed finish. The goal was briefly checked by VAR before being confirmed.
Welbeck, who made his Premier League debut in 2008 with Manchester United, is now enjoying the most prolific league campaign of his career.
In response, Slot introduced Rio Ngumoha, Andy Robertson and Federico Chiesa in search of an equaliser, but Brighton remained the more dangerous side throughout the closing stages.
The defeat leaves Liverpool fifth in the table, two points behind Aston Villa and just one ahead of Chelsea, with a top-five finish likely enough to secure Champions League qualification.
While their Premier League title defence faltered earlier in the season, Liverpool are still competing in Europe and will face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals next month.
After the match, Alisson confirmed on social media that he expects to be “out of action for a while.”
AFP
