Liverpool narrowed the hole with Manchester Metropolis again to a few factors with a 2-0 win over Brighton, who’ve now misplaced 5 video games on the rebound.
Jurgen Klopp’s males took the initiative in a surreal trend when good participant Luis Diaz bravely headed dwelling and Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was attacked within the rapid aftermath. The Liverpool striker walked away with out a severe damage, and regardless of a VAR evaluate, Sanchez’s problem didn’t deserve a purple card.
Luis Diaz bumps into Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez as he places Liverpool forward at AMEX
Brighton, who began beautifully however light, ought to have equalized simply after the break, however Leandro Trossard hit the crossbar from shut vary. This proved a pricey mistake, as Mohamed Salah scored the second vital purpose within the 61st minute from a penalty kick after Yves Bisoma was penalized for a handball by referee Mike Dean. Salah now has 20 Premier League objectives and has achieved this feat in 4 of his final 5 seasons with the membership.
Regardless of Trussard’s probability, Graham Potter’s males struggled for any rhythm of their offensive third place and failed to attain for the fourth time of their final 5 Premier League video games. They’ve now gained solely three of their final 24 video games in all competitions (90 minutes solely) because the stress begins to construct on their coach.
In the meantime, Liverpool have gained eight consecutive Premier League matches for the primary time since their 18 successful streak that led to February 2020, en path to successful the title within the 2019/20 season.
The curiosity within the title race is now turning to Monday Evening Soccer Manchester Metropolis can lengthen the distinction to 6 factors by beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Monday March 14 7:00 pm
Begins at 8:00 pm
Diaz scored, however ought to Sanchez have seen purple?
Luis Diaz bumps into Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez as he places Liverpool forward at AMEX
Luis Diaz acquired therapy after scoring for Liverpool in Brighton
Liverpool’s opening purpose ought to have been a second of pure euphoria for each Diaz and the touring Liverpool supporters – as a substitute there was a surreal silence round The Amex as Sanchez’s problem to eradicate the Liverpool striker was too disgusting to look at reside.
It did not look significantly better than the replay, to the purpose the place some Brighton followers across the Press Field have been dumbfounded to see Sanchez’s problem replayed.
The VAR assistant referee, with Stuart Attwell on obligation, reviewed the incident however determined that the goalkeeper’s heavy interference in opposition to the Colombian was not even price sending referee Dean to the monitor to evaluate whether or not a severe error had occurred. Luckily Diaz was not significantly injured and gave Brighton the chance to beat the rest of the match, however the way in which the stewards got here to that conclusion was fairly baffling.
Diaz is a vibrant spark for Liverpool
Luis Diaz tops Liverpool in Brighton
I had been pushed laborious to search out one soul who believed that the arrival of Luis Diaz would push even Sadio Mane and Salah into the shadows. However that’s the actuality because the signing from Porto has tailored to life underneath Klopp in a short time and is presently Liverpool’s most harmful attacking participant.
He was the most effective participant within the recreation at Amex with a present stuffed with excessive power, prime quality and quite a lot of grit – as evidenced by his opening purpose that he put himself on the road for. “He did what the striker needed to do,” Klopp mentioned.
“I could not see him once more however he was superb sufficient within the first second. Getting there along with his head was actually courageous. Nice purpose.”
It took a while to heat up with Klopp clearly encouraging a comeback after dropping a duel with Tariq Lamptey. It was as if Klopp’s phrases set hearth to Diaz, who ripped the match away from that second.
A few of the highlights of his displaying have been a 50-yard lunge lunge backwards to shoot the ball off Lamptey at halftime and a devastating 50 yards ahead that ended with a ridiculous go to Salah, who ought to have doubled his tally within the afternoon. His operating energy is extraordinary.
With signings nonetheless going into the January switch window, they will not be significantly better than this.
Eight stats: Magic Mo
- Solely Steven Gerrard (212) has been immediately concerned in Liverpool’s variety of Premier League objectives greater than Salah (115 objectives, 43 assists), with the Egyptian becoming a member of Robbie Fowler in 158 objectives with the Reds within the competitors.
- Salah turned the twenty fifth participant to succeed in 50 away objectives within the Premier League, with solely Harry Kane (67) and Sergio Aguero (85) reaching this quantity in fewer appearances than Al-Masry (91).
- For the reason that begin of Salah’s first season within the Premier League with Liverpool (2017-18), solely Jamie Vardy (21) and Luka Milivojevic (20) have scored extra penalties than Al-Masry (18/20). Of the gamers who’ve taken greater than 20 penalty kicks in competitors historical past, solely Matt Le Tissier (96%), Thierry Henry (92%) and Leighton Baines (90.9%) have the next penalty kick conversion fee than Salah (90%).
What then?
Brighton will face Tottenham within the Premier League on Wednesday 16 March at 7.30 pm.
Liverpool’s subsequent match within the Premier League in opposition to Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, will probably be on the identical day at 8.15 pm, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Wednesday March 16 7:30 PM
Begins at 8:15 pm
