Liverpool has also failed to win its third match since securing the league title. Arne Slot’s side suffered a defeat on Monday evening away to Brighton & Hove Albion, continuing their stumble toward the end of the season. Mohamed Salah also didn’t have the day he had hoped for. He now has just one more chance in his hunt for a new record.
Liverpool’s difficult end to the season continued on Monday night with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion, a result that extended their winless run to three matches since mathematically sealing the Premier League title.
What should have been a celebratory end to a dominant campaign has turned into a subdued and uncertain final chapter, as the champions struggle to maintain focus and form with just one match left to play.
The match at the AMEX Stadium was full of twists and intensity, as Brighton, still chasing their own goals in the table, refused to be a backdrop to Liverpool’s title lap. Arne Slot, overseeing the team following Jürgen Klopp’s departure, made some notable decisions with his lineup. Dutch midfielders Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch both started, while veteran defender Virgil van Dijk was left out of the starting XI for the first time in 69 league matches a streak that had seen him play every single minute of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign until this point. Slot’s choice was seen as a tactical rest, but it nonetheless marked the end of one of the most impressive individual records of the season.
Despite the rotation, all eyes were on Mohamed Salah, who took the field not only as a starter but also, for the first time, as Liverpool’s captain in a Premier League game. Slot had joked before kickoff that leaving the Egyptian on the bench wasn’t an option. “If I had left him out, he’d have come knocking on my office door,” the Dutch manager said with a grin to Sky Sports.
Salah’s motivation was clear. Coming into the game, he had been involved in 46 Premier League goals this season 28 goals scored and 18 assists provided. Just one goal contribution away from equaling the record held jointly by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer (47), Salah was not just chasing individual history; he was also in contention for the Golden Boot. With just one game remaining after this fixture, the pressure was on for the Egyptian superstar to deliver.
Liverpool started the match in promising fashion. Right from kickoff, they looked sharp and aggressive. It took just minutes for them to break the deadlock, as Harvey Elliott found the net to make it 0-1 after an outstanding individual effort from young full-back Conor Bradley. The 20-year-old, filling in for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold, surged forward with confidence and precision, beating defenders before teeing up Elliott. The goal was a perfect showcase of Liverpool’s emerging talent and attacking flair.
However, Brighton responded with equal quality. Their equalizer was a model of collective football, executed with textbook precision. The ball was played into a striker who dropped deep to receive it, laid it off to a third player, who then threaded a pass through to Yasin Ayari breaking into space. Ayari made no mistake and slotted past Alisson to make it 1-1. It was the kind of goal coaches dream of, perfectly choreographed and ruthlessly effective.
Not long after, Liverpool regained the lead. Dominik Szoboszlai, with little apparent threat, caught Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen off guard. Expecting a cross, Verbruggen left the far post vulnerable, and Szoboszlai either through cunning or fortunate mis-hit curled the ball directly into the far corner. It was a goal that reflected both Szoboszlai’s technical ability and Liverpool’s unpredictability in attack.
Yet again, Brighton clawed their way back into the match. With 20 minutes left on the clock, Danny Welbeck forced a strong save from Alisson, but Kaoru Mitoma was quick to react and tapped in the rebound to make it 2-2. The Japanese winger’s energy and positioning proved vital, and the equalizer set up a tense and dramatic final phase.
As both teams pushed for a winner, it was Brighton who found the decisive goal. Substitute Jack Hinshelwood latched onto a low cross from Matthew O’Riley and turned it in at the near post. Initially, the goal was ruled out for offside, bringing a moment of relief to Liverpool’s bench. But after a VAR review, the goal was allowed to stand Hinshelwood had timed his run perfectly. The stadium erupted, and Brighton celebrated what could be a crucial three points in their pursuit of a top-eight finish.
Liverpool tried to muster a response, but their attack lacked the sharpness and resolve seen earlier in the match. Salah had a few half-chances but couldn’t find the moment of brilliance that would have earned him the record or rescued a result for his team. As the final whistle blew, the Reds were left to reflect on another frustrating performance. Since sealing the league title with a win over Tottenham Hotspur, they have picked up just one point from a possible nine an underwhelming return for a side crowned champions.
Looking ahead, Liverpool will wrap up their season on Sunday with a match against Crystal Palace at Anfield. While the game will serve as a farewell for some and a chance for others to make a final impression, all eyes will again be on Salah. Can he get that elusive 47th goal involvement and carve his name even deeper into Premier League history?
As for Brighton, the victory keeps their European hopes alive. With one match left also against Tottenham they need just a point to secure eighth place. Normally, that wouldn’t be enough for continental qualification, but this season offers a lifeline. If Chelsea finish sixth or seventh in the league and go on to win the UEFA Conference League, a European spot could trickle down to eighth place. It’s a long shot, but Brighton have done their part and remain in the conversation.
For both clubs, the final weekend of the season still holds meaning. For Liverpool, it’s a chance to finish with dignity and perhaps a record for Salah. For Brighton, it’s one last push to make history of their own.
