Brighton & Hove Albion twice battled from behind to secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday, strengthening their bid to qualify for European football.
An action-packed first 45 minutes saw Liverpool take an early lead through Harvey Elliott, but Brighton responded brilliantly when Yasin Ayari pulled them level after a superb team goal, only for the Reds to restore their lead on the stroke of half-time as Dominik Szoboszlai caught Bart Verbruggen out with a cross-turned-shot to bizarrely give Liverpool the lead at the break.
Brighton dominated much of the second half as they searched to get back into the game, eventually equalising through substitute Kaoru Mitoma before fellow substitutes Matt O'Riley and Jack Hinshelwood combined to net a late winner, securing a crucial boost in their pursuit of an eighth-placed finish in the league.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Brighton showed brilliant fight, determination and ability tonight, twice coming from behind and eventually securing the victory - a crucial three points in the ongoing battle for an eighth-placed finish and potential Conference League football.
That defeat astoundingly marks Liverpool's first when leading at half-time since a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth in December 2016, having gone undefeated in the previous 156 fixtures (142 wins and 14 draws).
It also maintains Brighton's strong home record in this competition against the Reds, as the Seagulls have now avoided Premier League defeat at the AMEX to Liverpool since March 2022.
BRIGHTON VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Harvey Elliott goal vs. Brighton (9th min, Brighton 0-1 Liverpool)
"Liverpool showing why the champions are champions!" 🎙️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2025
The ball from Szoboszlai, the flick from Salah, the assist from Bradley... Harvey Elliott rounds off a FINE Liverpool move 🤩 pic.twitter.com/z04B0Ygq9z
Liverpool take the lead in style!
Szoboszlai spreads the play from left to right, and Mohamed Salah delicately plays a first-time pass into the path of the onrushing Conor Bradley.
Bradley's first touch goes through the legs of Simon Adingra, a feint then takes Adam Webster out of the game, and the full-back drives to the byline and pulls it back for Elliott to poke into the open net.
Yasin Ayari goal vs. Liverpool (32nd min, Brighton 1-1 Liverpool)
Yasin Ayari draws Brighton level against the champions at the end of a lovely flowing move 🤌 pic.twitter.com/ui0twFdU9u
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2025
Ayari pulls Brighton back level!
Webster fires a line-breaking ball into the feet of Danny Welbeck, and the striker lays it off to Brajan Gruda, who lifts a first-time pass over the Liverpool defence and to Ayari.
Ayari's touch brings the ball into his path, and his strike is across goal and into the bottom left corner, pulling Brighton level.
Dominik Szoboszlai goal vs. Brighton (46th min, Brighton 1-2 Liverpool)
Dominik Szoboszlai puts Liverpool back in front! 🔴
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2025
Did he mean this? 😅 pic.twitter.com/Fj3n2lKLrs
Szoboszlai has caught Verbruggen out to restore Liverpool's lead!
Szoboszlai lays off a short free-kick, makes a run down the right side of the Brighton penalty area and receives the ball back from Elliott.
The Hungarian looks set to cross into the area, but the midfielder loops the ball over Verbruggen and into the far corner - a bizarre goal to put Liverpool back ahead.
Kaoru Mitoma goal vs. Liverpool (69th min, Brighton 2-2 Liverpool)
Brighton are level again, Mitoma with the goal!
Carlos Baleba plays the ball wide to Mitoma on the left, and the winger wonderfully picks out Welbeck inside the Liverpool penalty area.
Welbeck's strike is saved, but Mitoma has followed his pass and expertly volleys the rebound off the floor and into the top left corner to equalise once again.
Jack Hinshelwood goal vs. Liverpool (85th min, Brighton 3-2 Liverpool)
Jack Hinshelwood scores Brighton's winner which is initially disallowed for offside... before the semi-automated offside technology allows the goal to stand! ✅
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2025
How important will that goal be for the Seagulls? 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/QVAjIlReu8
Brighton are ahead! Hinshelwood's only been on the pitch a matter of seconds!
Mitoma is once again causing problems on the left side, cutting into the box on his right foot and reversing the ball back to O'Riley on the left wing.
O'Riley finds Hinshelwood at the back post with a pinpoint cross, and after a lengthy VAR check, the goal is awarded, giving Brighton the lead
MAN OF THE MATCH - KAORU MITOMA
© Iconsport
Mitoma may have only played 25 minutes of the match, but the Japanese winger was a major contributor as Brighton took all three points - a crucial win in the battle for eighth place.
Mitoma netted the equaliser with a clinical finish, with the initial chance coming as a result of his own creativity, while he got the pre-assist for Brighton's late winner.
Several Brighton players could have been given the award, with the Seagulls producing a display more than worthy of all three points against the Premier League champions.
BRIGHTON VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: Brighton 49%-51% Liverpool
Shots: Brighton 25-18 Liverpool
Shots on target: Brighton 12-5 Liverpool
Corners: Brighton 3-3 Liverpool
Fouls: Brighton 9-8 Liverpool
BEST STATS
1 - In what is his 300th Premier League appearance (Chelsea 13, Liverpool 287), Mohamed Salah is starting a game as captain for the very first time in the competition. Only. pic.twitter.com/cwokvj4lan
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 19, 2025
3 - Liverpool are just the third side in Premier League history to score in 100% of their away games in a single season after both Arsenal and Manchester United did so in 2001-02. Day-trip. pic.twitter.com/8HqvIKDs8d
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 19, 2025
2016 - Liverpool have lost a Premier League game having led at half time for the first time since December 2016 (a 4-3 loss at Bournemouth), ending their run of 156 games without defeat when leading at the break (W142 D14). Hungover. pic.twitter.com/Dp7z1iKoVK
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 19, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Brighton's battle for an eighth-placed finish and potential Conference League football will go down to the very last day of the season, when the Seagulls will travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's final competitive match of this season will be mirrored in their first of the next, as newly-crowned FA Cup winners Crystal Palace visit Anfield on Sunday, where the hosts will celebrate their Premier League trophy triumph.
Ellis Stevens
