Terrific Trossard a class act, says Brighton boss
BRIGHTON’S new manager Roberto de Zerbi couldn’t have asked for a more dramatic start to life in England but shouldn’t expect every Premier League defence to be as generous as Liverpool’s.
Leandro Trossard was the Seagulls hero with a brilliant hat-trick, the first scored by an opposition player at Anfield since Arsenal’s Andriy Arshavin in 2009. Yet Liverpool fans will be more concerned by the lapses from their own team, while Rangers supporters will be encouraged ahead of their Champions League visit to Anfield on Tuesday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was at fault for both of Trossard’s opening goals in the first 17 minutes.
And even when Jurgen Klopp’s men rallied in typically ebullient fashion to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead, they threw the win away with seven minutes left.
Substitute Kaoru Mitoma sped down the flank on AlexanderArnold’s side and when his cross reached the area, Virgil van Dijk took a clearing swipe and missed.
At the far post, Trossard didn’t, striking his finish with such power that Alisson could only help push the ball into the roof of the net.
‘Leandro is a crack (star player),’ said De Zerbi about his goal hero.
‘I sent him a message when he was with the Belgian national team that he should increase the number of his goals. I don’t think he’s finished scoring.’
Having presided over great success in recent years, Liverpool are currently mid-table and Jurgen Klopp viewed their latest collapse as a throwback to his early days when they were mentally fragile.
‘It reminded of that time. We’d be only one goal in front and everyone was nearly having a heart attack,’ he said.
‘We should have defended all three goals better.’
After four minutes, AlexanderArnold’s clearing header went high in the air and not far enough. Jordan Henderson couldn’t gain control and Brighton took full advantage. Alex Mac Allister fed Danny Welbeck and he backheeled for Trossard whose sharp turn left Alexander-Arnold on the floor before he shot past Alisson.
Incredibly, Brighton should have added a couple more through Welbeck and Trossard before they did score a second after 17 minutes.
Again, Alexander-Arnold played a part, failing to control a clearance with his chest and letting the ball run to Welbeck. From there, Brighton’s football was beautiful. Welbeck pulled back a cross from the edge of the box to Solly March whose first-time pass into Trossard was met with a sound left-foot finish by the Belgian.
Robert Sanchez made a fine save to deny Mo Salah and then Salah just kept onside to turn Henderson’s clipped pass towards Roberto Firmino who shot home.
The goal was initially given offside but a VAR check showed Salah was in line with Adam Webster.
Luis Diaz replaced Fabio Carvalho at the interval and gung-ho Liverpool appeared to swing the game completely.
After 54 minutes, Joel Matip made a vital clearance with his heel to stop Welbeck making it 3-1 and seconds later Liverpool had gone up the other end with a devastating break to equalise.
Henderson and Thiago played their part and when Diaz played a final pass into Firmino, he took a touch with his right foot to turn past Lewis Dunk before finishing with his left.
It looked as if redemption was on its way for Liverpool when they took the lead just past the hour — and it was fitting that AlexanderArnold should claim an assist.
His corner was whipped in and forced Sanchez to punch the ball against his defender Webster for an unfortunate own goal.
Yet Liverpool looked increasingly jittery as the clock ticked down.
Alisson needed to make a reflex save to deny Welbeck but Brighton earned their just rewards. Mitoma galloped down the right and when his cross evaded first Van Dijk and then Welbeck, Trossard made no mistake.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Elliott 59); Henderson (Milner 59), Fabinho, Thiago (Nunez 89); Salah, Firmino (Jota 75), Carvalho (Diaz 46). Subs (not used): Adrian, Gomez, Phillips, Melo. Booked: Alexander-Arnold.
BRIGHTON (3-4-3): Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Webster; March, Caicedo, Mac Allister, Estupinan (Lallana 76); Gross (Mitoma 65), Welbeck, Trossard (Lamptey 87). Subs (not used): Steele, Colwill, Sarmiento, Encisco, Undav, Gilmour. Booked: Estupinan. Referee: Andrew Madley.