Liverpool 2-2 Brighton
by James Nalton 
at Anfield

LIVERPOOL could only draw with Brighton on Saturday despite taking a two-goal lead early in the first half. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side looked to be cruising and as comfortable as they were in their 5-0 dismantling of Manchester United last week, but they struggled to continue to control the game against an impressive, well-drilled Brighton side.

Jordan Henderson opened the scoring with a first-time shot from the edge of the area following great work from Mohamed Salah down the right.

Sadio Mane doubled the lead for the home side, getting on the end of a nice cross from substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had just replaced the injured Naby Keita. 

Mane looked to have made it 3-0, pressing Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and forcing the ball into the net in front of the Kop, but it was disallowed for an accidental handball.

Though Oxlade-Chamberlain assisted that goal, Keita’s exit meant Liverpool’s midfield lost some control — something Brighton were well set up to react to.

Manager Graham Potter used a back four for the first time in the Premier League this season. It helped stifle Salah’s goalscoring threat — even if not his creative one — and also meant they had numbers in midfield on the break.

Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu pulled a goal back with a looping long-range effort, but even at that time it felt like it would be a consolation and Liverpool would go on to win the game convincingly.

Brighton slowly edged themselves into the game’s narrative, though, and equalised in the second half through eye-catching forward Leandro Trossard. The Belgian then had the ball in the net for a second time and looked to have given Brighton the win, but was slightly offside.

“It was a wonderful game,” said Potter afterwards. “One of the best games I have been involved in I think. I can’t think of another one better.

“It was an incredible performance from the guys in the second half. I didn’t think we were too bad in the first half, we were just punished by a really good team.

“They had some really good moments and that can happen, here especially.

“We survived the third goal when it gets disallowed and from there we have a bit of belief, a response to score and then the second half was a wonderful performance.”