Brighton’s impressive Premier League campaign hit a new high as they thrashed Liverpool 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening.
Solly March scored twice in what was an emphatic win for Roberto de Zerbi’s side who climbed to seventh in the Premier League standings with the result.
Brighton dominate from the start
Liverpool hardly settled into the game in the opening minutes as Brighton dominated the Reds with their attractive and possession-based football.
Jurgen Klopp’s side however had the first big chance of the game in the 27th minute against the run of play when Mohammed Salah’s effort was brilliantly kept out by Brighton keeper Roberto Sanchez who kept the scores level.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute as World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister was brought down by Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker but VAR intervened to overturn the decision after replays showed that March was just a fraction offside in the build up play.
Both sides were scoreless going into the half time whistle, but it was the hosts who had dominated the proceedings.
Brighton went ahead just a minute after the restart when March converted from the left winger took full advantage of Kaoru Mitoma’s mishit slice to slot home and give the Seagulls a deserved 1-0 lead.
Six minutes it was 2-0 as March doubled his tally on night with a sublime left footed finish from the inside the penalty box.
It was Evan Ferguson’s brilliant pass that split open the Liverpool defense and it was March who was on the end of it. The 28-year-old left wing back took a fantastic first touch before placing his strike in the Liverpool net.
Liverpool looked pedestrian all over the pitch as Klopp cut a sorry figure on the sidelines. Cody Gakpo hardly impressed with Salah and the entire Liverpool midfield being outclassed and outplayed by De Zerbi’s men.
Welbeck returns to form
Two soon became three as Danny Welbeck scored his first goal of the season in the 81st minute to complete the misery on Liverpool. The striker latched on March’s flick from the inside right flank before looping the ball over Joe Gomez and then picking his spot to fire into the back of the net to give his side three points on night.
Klopp later claimed that he was ‘frustrated’ with his side taking full responsibility of the toothless performance as the Merseyside outfit remain eighth in the standings with 28 points from 18 games having now lost consecutive league games.
This was also Brighton’s first home victory over the Reds since 1961 ending their barren run of 10 winless games in the top flight.
Photo credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
