BRIGHTON, England : Danny Welbeck scored in each half as Brighton & Hove Albion beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday to boost their hopes of European qualification and deal a blow to the visitors’ push for a Champions League place.
Brighton climbed to eighth with 43 points from 31 matches, while Liverpool stayed fifth on 49.
The kickoff at the Amex Stadium was delayed by 15 minutes because of traffic congestion affecting Liverpool supporters, and Brighton made the brighter start.
Welbeck put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute, heading in at the far post after Diego Gomez hooked the ball back across goal.
Liverpool levelled on the half-hour through Milos Kerkez after a mistake by Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, whose headed pass back towards goal was intercepted by the Hungary defender before he finished past Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton restored their lead 10 minutes after the break when Yankuba Minteh’s cross was turned back into the middle by Jack Hinshelwood and Welbeck tapped in from close range. The goal was checked by VAR for offside before being confirmed.
It was Welbeck’s 12th league goal of the season, his best return in a single Premier League campaign.
Liverpool have now taken one point from their last three league games and were hampered by an early injury to striker Hugo Ekitike, while Mohamed Salah and goalkeeper Alisson were absent from the squad.
The defeat was Liverpool’s 10th in the league this season, increasing the pressure on manager Arne Slot as his side struggled to impose themselves.
“Disappointed,” forward Cody Gakpo told TNT Sports. “We wanted to win, which is important in the situation we are in, but it didn’t go that way, so it’s a difficult afternoon.
“We have to fight to win the last seven games.”
