By Neil Squires
IT WAS a case of After The Lord Mayor’s Show for Liverpool as they found themselves reeled in by a resilient Brighton who came from 2-0 down to earn a draw.
Jurgen Klopp’s outfit were guilty of assuming a repeat of last weekend’s stroll at Manchester United after their fast start saw them score two goals in 24 minutes.
But the difference yesterday was they were up against a cohesive, well-coached team who knew exactly what they were doing.
And Leandro Trossard’s 65th-minute equaliser – after a brilliant first-half strike from Enock Mwepu – was entirely merited.
Trossard could even have grabbed a late winner but his goal was ruled out for offside.
“We could have won it as well – it’s such fine margins – but we’re really happy with a draw,” said Trossard.
“It was such a big game for us so to get the draw here almost feels like a win.
“We need to keep building on this, I think we’ve been brilliant. We had fighting spirit.”
Graham Potter’s side showed exactly why they are in the upper echelons of the Premier League table with a bright display.
Having won at Anfield 1-0 in February, this was another outstanding result for them as they managed to stop the Mo Salah freight train. The Egyptian did put the ball in the net just after the break but his 10-game scoring streak came to an end as he was flagged for offside.
Sadio Mane also had a goal ruled out for handball but Liverpool manager Klopp had no complaints and criticised his side’s attitude.
“In our good moments we were really good but the best way to defend Brighton is to have the football yourself and that’s what we didn’t do for long enough,” he said.
“In the second half, we were not good enough.
“The body language I didn’t like at all. It was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s really tough.’”
In hindsight perhaps taking a fourth-minute lead was the worst thing that could have happened to Liverpool.
Salah teased the Brighton defence down the right, pulled the ball back to Jordan Henderson on the edge of the penalty area and the captain placed his shot perfectly into the top corner.
The goal sparked playful chants of ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ around Anfield as minds flashed back to the Old Trafford romp.
But Brighton almost equalised when Yves Bissouma drove through from midfield to hit a post from long range after a fingertip save from Alisson.
Naby Keita limped off injured but his replacement Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made an instant impact, delivering the precise cross which Mane finished with ease in the 24th minute.
Brighton hit back with a brilliant goal from Mwepu, who curled his shot from the right-hand edge of the penalty area over Alisson in the 42nd minute.
It was an outrageous effort from the Zambian, who had gone close with a header earlier and it gave the visitors hope.
Brighton’s thoughtful, constructed attacks regularly overloaded Liverpool and the second goal was no bolt from the blue. It was equally outstanding in its own way. Started by goalkeeper Sanchez – who slid a fine ball out to Marc Cucurella down the left – a sweeping move saw former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana’s ball into the area find Trossard and the Belgian cut inside Andy Robertson to fire home.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in 24 games – their best run for 32 years – but this was not how they might have expected to reach that landmark.