Liverpool Tighten Grip At The Top With Narrow Win At Brighton

By Max Wise

Gross defending by Pascal Gross gifted Liverpool a decisive penalty as Mohamed Salah took advantage to give the Reds a narrow victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Liverpool tasted their first defeat of the season in their last league outing against Manchester City but Salah’s strike gets them back on track with a return to winning ways, although they were not at their fluid best.

The win ensures Liverpool hold a seven-point advantage over their nearest challengers, Manchester City, who host Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.

Liverpool enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half but they could not convert their superiority into meaningful chances as the Brighton goalkeeper went largely untested in a below-par first half from both sides.

After the restart the league leaders surged into the opposition’s box a little bit more and they got their reward in the 50th minute when Mohamed Salah was tugged back by Gross for an undisputable penalty.

Salah gave David Button in the Brighton goal no chance at all as he fired into the right corner for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.

Makeshift Liverpool centre back Fabinho produced a heroic block to deny Brighton an equalizer by blocking Gross’s effort from the middle of the box as the hosts upped the tempo.

Roberto Firmino burst through the Brighton defense but his fizzing shot was turned away by Button.

Liverpool now have 50 points from their 22 games played so far with a home game against Crystal Palace to come next week.