Summary:
- Brighton & Hove Albion scored a 3-2 victory against Liverpool at the Amex Stadium on Monday.
- Jack Hinshelwood’s late strike sealed the dramatic win that keeps the European hopes for Fabian Hurzeler’s side alive.
- Liverpool couldn’t hold off Brighton’s second-half pressure.
Brighton kept their hopes of European football alive with a thrilling 3-2 win over Premier League champions Liverpool, fighting back twice before Jack Hinshelwood struck a dramatic late winner at the Amex Stadium.
Eyes on the Prize
From the start, Brighton knew what was at stake, namely, a win would lift them into eighth place, which could be enough to book a European ticket.
However, Liverpool struck first. With several regulars rested, the spotlight was on fringe players to impress new boss Arne Slot. Conor Bradley made the most of the opportunity, slicing through Brighton’s defence and teeing up Harvey Elliott for a simple finish to put the visitors ahead.
Brighton didn’t shrink from the challenge. Despite an early scare when Danny Welbeck nodded wide from close range, they pushed forward with purpose.
Yasin Ayari capped off a slick move to level things up and reward the hosts’ pressure. But Liverpool snatched back the lead just before the break when Dominik Szoboszlai floated a ball past Bart Verbruggen, possibly unintentionally, leaving fans and pundits alike debating whether it was a cross or a shot.
Gary Neville said: “It didn’t have the shape of a cross.”
Brighton Shone After Halftime
Brighton came out firing after halftime, dominating possession, though Liverpool had the better chances to stretch their lead.
Mohamed Salah, making his 300th Premier League appearance, missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1. That miss proved costly.
Just minutes after coming on, Kaoru Mitoma reacted quickest to a spilled shot and smashed home the equaliser to make it 2-2 in the 69th minute. As the game opened up, Brighton smelled blood. Jack Hinshelwood looked to have won it late on, only for the flag to go up. However, a VAR check confirmed Matt O’Riley was just onside before providing the assist, sparking jubilant scenes.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said:
We can only be successful if you stick together and we proved that today… we are very happy but there is one game to go.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot added:
Two very good teams were on the pitch… in general it was a good game from both teams.
The win moves Brighton three points clear of Brentford ahead of their final match against Tottenham. While qualification scenarios remain complex, this comeback keeps their European dream alive. Can Brighton make to Europe? Get the latest odds from the best Non UK Betting sites.