These were the updates on the Liverpool vs Brighton Premier League football match on Sunday, March 31, 2024
- Liverpool beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield.
- The Reds came from behind to beat Brighton, who scored in the second minute through Danny Welbeck.
- Goals by Luis Diaz (27th minute) and Mohamed Salah (65th minute) steadied the title ship for the Reds.
- Liverpool goes top of the Premier League (67 points) ahead of the Manchester City (63) vs Arsenal (64) clash.
- An Arsenal victory will regain the North London club the number-one spot on the ladder.
‘The mentality of the boys is amazing’
Mac Allister shared his views post match: “We didn’t start as we wanted, but it was an amazing game. They are an amazing team. It was a tough match, but in the end we won and we are very happy.”
“The mentality of the boys is amazing. That is what you need when you are one-nil down. That is what we showed today,” he said.
“He [Salah] has been asking for some passes and assists from me. We have tried to be connected. In the first half, he missed a couple but in the second half he showed his quality.”
- Full-time
Liverpool hold on in what was a nervous last few minutes to keep their title ambitions alive.
Salah proves the difference maker this half as Liverpool go, temporarily, to the top of the table at 67 points.
They will now shift their attention to Manchester, where Manchester City and Arsenal will square off to see if Liverpool indeed can hold on to top spot.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:57 GMT)
Salah misses the mark
After Brighton give up the ball deep in their half, the ball eventually finds Salah.
He decides to have a go from the right side, aiming for the near post, but his shot ends up wayward.
90+6 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:56 GMT)
Liverpool make change
Ryan Gravenberch replaces Szoboszlai as we enter the final few minutes of stoppage time.
Gakpo is booked soon after to add to the extensive list of yellow cards doled out today.
90+4 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:55 GMT)
Welbeck lashes into side netting
Brighton are looking for a last-gasp equaliser.
Welbeck receives the ball on the right side and fires in a powerful shot at goal, but instead finds the side netting.
90+4 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:52 GMT)
Verbruggen makes huge stop!
Elliott is released on the right side thanks to Mac Allister.
He is able to weasel into the box before laying off a ball towards Salah.
Salah unleashes a strong strike towards the left post, but the big Dutch keeper is able to make a full dive to his right to stop it.
Meanwhile, we will have six additional minutes of stoppage time.
90+1 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:50 GMT)
Liverpool make substitution
Diaz trudges off as Cody Gakpo rushes on to try and produce one more bit of magic for the home side.
89 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
- 8h ago
(14:48 GMT)
Lallana shot goes wide
Liverpool are sloppy as Diaz gives up the ball.
The ball finds Lallana, who tries to squeak it by his marker and Kelleher to find the far post corner, but just misses the mark.
It would have been quite the moment if the ex-Liverpool player had landed that.
87 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
- 8h ago
(14:46 GMT)
Elliott header causes concern
Liverpool win a corner on the left side.
The cross finds Elliott, who steers it towards the far post.
The ball ends up at the feet of a Brighton defender, who is able to clear it away before any other Liverpool players can get to it.
83 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:44 GMT)
Both sides make changes
Harvey Elliott is brought on to replace Nunez, who has had a quiet outing by his standards.
Adringa and Moder are subbed off in favour of Evan Ferguson and Adam Lallana.
83 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:43 GMT)
Dunk header causes concerns
The Liverpool backline are holding strong for now though, as we get into the final 10 minutes of regulation play.
A free kick is taken from the right side. The ball is sent in, and Dunk is able to get a head on it, with Kelleher sent to his left to make a desperate diving stop.
Another Brighton header soon follows, with Kelleher this time making a near-post stop.
80 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:37 GMT)
Liverpool break fizzles out
After a Brighton corner, Liverpool are able to spring a quick counter.
Diaz sets off and then passes it to an advancing Salah.
Salah decides to go all on his own once he arrives inside the box, but the shot from the left side is easily handled by Verbruggen.
He could have looked to make another pass there to Diaz on his right, to make things a bit more interesting.
76 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:35 GMT)
VAR confirms offside
After a few minutes, VAR confirms that Diaz was just offside when Salah made the pass.
Excellent spot from the linesman, considering the circumstances.
Meanwhile, another yellow is doled out to Van Hecke, making it six now in the match.
73 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
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- 8h ago
(14:33 GMT)
Diaz goal ruled offside
A Welbeck slip allows Nunez to recover the ball.
He passes it off to Salah on the right.
Salah spots Diaz on his left and seems to have timed it just right as Diaz is able to squeeze it past Verbruggen.
The linesman calls it offside, but there is a VAR check to confirm the decision.
71 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz has their third goal disallowed for offside vs Brighton at Anfield [Molly Darlington/Reuters]
- 8h ago
(14:31 GMT)
Brighton make substitution
It is the end of Lamptey’s outing as he is replaced by Facundo Buonanotte.
70 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:30 GMT)
Baleba almost scores own goal
The Reds are desperate for a third goal as they win a corner on the left side.
Szoboszlai takes the chance, with the ball finding Baleba who, in an attempt to head it away, ends up heading it just over his own goal.
Brighton fans would have had some cause for consternation during that moment.
67 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:26 GMT)
GOAL!
Salah proves the saviour for Anfield as he puts the home side ahead!
Szoboszlai starts the attack with a pass into Mac Allister from the right side.
The Argentinian soon spots an open Salah inside the box with a precise pass.
Salah receives the ball with his left foot and curls it past Verbruggen’s right to find the open goal.
65 mins: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores his team’s second goal vs Brighton at Anfield, Liverpool, UK on March 31, 2024 [Molly Darlington/Reuters]Salah celebrates scoring for Liverpool [Molly Darlington/Reuters]
- 9h ago
(14:25 GMT)
Szoboszlai strike goes wide
The Hungarian gears up for a fearsome strike from outside the box on the right side.
The ball manages to evade everyone but ends up continuing past the far post.
63 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:23 GMT)
Brighton starting to impose themselves
It has been one-way traffic courtesy of Liverpool so far.
However, Brighton are now showing some signs of getting back into this contest.
60 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:19 GMT)
Yellow card
For an egregious challenge on Lamptey, Gomez is duly shown the yellow.
He is the fifth player with a caution to his name, and we haven’t even reached the hour mark yet.
58 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:18 GMT)
Salah opportunity goes begging
Diaz chips in from the left side of the box towards Salah at the far post.
However, the Egyptian international is unable to rise to it, as the ball continues out of bounds.
Salah goes down soon after in the box, but the referee waves play on.
55 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah reacts during the second half vs Brighton at Anfield on March 31 [Molly Darlington/Reuters]
- 9h ago
(14:15 GMT)
Mac Allister header goes wide
Liverpool have been superb in the opening minutes of this second half.
Gomez whips in a cross from the left, with Mac Allister getting his head on it, but the ball continues harmlessly past the far post.
53 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:11 GMT)
Yellow cards galore
Welbeck goes into the referee’s naughty list after a rather clumsy challenge.
He is followed soon after by Van Dijk after tugging on Baleba’s jersey.
50 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:09 GMT)
Nervy moment for Liverpool
It is that man, Adringa, who is once again in the thick of things.
He is released down the middle with a lovely chipped ball.
His marker, Quansah, is able to stay right on his tail though.
He manages to expertly dispossess him off the ball inside the box before any further danger is caused.
48 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:06 GMT)
The second half is under way
After a much-needed breather, both sides are out for the second half.
This time, it will be Liverpool to kick things off.
No changes for either team at the moment.
46 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(14:04 GMT)
There’s another big game in the Premier League today
League leaders Arsenal clash with third-placed Manchester City in what could turn out to be the pivotal top-of-the-table contest that ultimately decides the Premier League championship.
The match kicks off straight after this one at 16:30 GMT. Al Jazeera’s Kevin Hand will bring you all the live match text commentary from Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Recent head-to-heads favour the home team with Man City winning four of their last five EPL matches against the Gunners.
- 9h ago
(13:56 GMT)
Home side dominates stats
With 14 shots to Brighton’s three, The Reds will be disappointed in not having a few more goals to show for it.
They have enjoyed the better possession at 57 percent but just can’t seem to get past a compact, well-organised Brighton defence.
The big concern for Liverpool’s defence has been the left flank, with Adringa causing all kinds of mayhem.
They will need to shore up that side if they are to preserve their title ambitions.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:52 GMT)
Half-time
The referee blows the whistle on what has been an exciting back-and-forth encounter at Anfield.
After going down a goal in the second minute, Liverpool went back to what they know best: relentless attack.
It culminated in an absorbing end-to-end battle, with both sides trading some serious blows.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:48 GMT)
Four minutes added
Considering the feisty nature of this first half, we will have four additional minutes of stoppage time.
45 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:46 GMT)
Liverpool corner fizzles out
Szoboszlai passes it off to Mac Allister, who sends in a deep cross, but nothing comes of the opportunity for the home side.
43 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:42 GMT)
Brighton holding for now
Liverpool continue their relentless assault on the Brighton end.
They have been patient in their build-up play, looking for the telling pass into the box.
40 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:39 GMT)
Diaz opportunity comes undone
After defending a Brighton corner, Salah kicks off the counter with a lovely flick towards a rampaging Diaz.
Despite the defender on him, Diaz does well to get into the Brighton half, but loses the ball at the last moment before entering the box.
He had help from Nunez on his left, but it was too late.
36 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:36 GMT)
Sides trading blows
We have essentially reverted to the first 20 minutes of play.
Both sides are once again operating at full tilt.
Given the scoreline, either side is desperate to break the deadlock as we near the half.
35 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:35 GMT)
Salah fails to test keeper
Soon after the Welbeck opportunity, Salah is released on the right side with a lovely through ball.
He gets to it and tries to beat the keeper from near range, but Verbruggen is able to make the crucial stop.
32 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:33 GMT)
Welbeck hits side netting
Liverpool are continually getting punished on that left flank.
This time, it is Welbeck who comes in and decides to try his luck at the near post.
He ends up sending the ball into the side netting, much to the relief of Kelleher.
31 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 9h ago
(13:32 GMT)
Adringa misses glorious chance
After a cross from the left side, the ball finds its way to Adringa.
He rushes into the box and fires at goal but is blocked by Quansah.
If he had aimed either side of him, it could very easily have been another goal for Brighton there.
30 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:29 GMT)
GOAL!
Diaz answers the call as Liverpool get their equaliser!
It comes courtesy of a corner.
After the ball bobbles around, Veltman tries to clear it away, but instead helps it along towards the goalkeeper.
Diaz capitalises by rushing forward and poking it to the right of Verbruggen to set Anfield alight.
27 mins: Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their first goal vs Brighton on March 31, 2024 (Molly Darlington/Reuters] (Reuters)Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, left, fails to save the goal from Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, right, during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, UK on March 31, 2024. [Rui Vieira/AP Photo] (AP Photo)
- 10h ago
(13:27 GMT)
Brighton defending deep
It is clear, they are sticking to a plan.
They have kept bodies behind to try and set up the counter whenever a Liverpool advance breaks down
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26 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:25 GMT)
Liverpool slowing it down
After a helter-skelter opening 20 minutes of play, Liverpool now look to slow down the pace and retain possession.
Brighton have been magnificent in applying pressure on the back line.
23 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:24 GMT)
Gross is booked
After a nasty challenge on Mac Allister, Gross goes into the book.
20 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:21 GMT)
Salah intervention goes over
Mac Allister releases Salah on the right side with a lovely chip into the box.
Salah attempts an on-the-go prod to beat the keeper at the near post, but ends up sending the ball.
Liverpool continue to knock at the door, and Brighton will have to be careful out there to prevent an equaliser.
18 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:17 GMT)
Yellow card
After chasing down Adringa and using his arm to try and dispossess him off the ball, Mac Allister is duly brandished with a yellow card.
The Anfield crowd make their feelings known about what they perceive as a somewhat harsh call.
15 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:15 GMT)
Mac Allister tries his luck
After receiving the ball outside the box, just right of centre, the Argentinian midfielder decides to test the goalkeeper.
However, he gets too much elevation on it as Verbruggen is left untested.
13 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:13 GMT)
Brighton wins first corner
It is taken by Gross from the left side.
He unfurls a swerving cross, but it has too much height on it as the ball carries behind for a goal kick.
12 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:12 GMT)
Salah has a go
After receiving the ball from the right flank, Salah snakes into the box and unleashes a left-footed curler towards the far post.
Thankfully for Verbruggen, the ball sails past and behind for a goal kick.
9 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Uk on March 31, 2024. [Rui Vieira/AP Photo] (AP Photo)
- 10h ago
(13:10 GMT)
End-to-end at Anfield
It has been just non-stop action as both teams are really going for it at the moment.
One gets the sense there are more goals in store.
9 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:09 GMT)
Nunez brought down
There is plenty of interest from the partisan crowd as Liverpool’s Nunez is brought down in the box after looking to receive a cross from the left side.
The home players all rush to the referee to plead the case, but he is unmoved.
6 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:08 GMT)
Brighton begin brightly
Klopp looks absolutely furious on the bench as he urges his players to show a bit more composure on the ball.
De Zerbi couldn’t have asked for a better start from his boys.
Liverpool have been known to turn it around before, and there is still plenty of time left in this match.
5 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:04 GMT)
GOAL!
What a start for Brighton as they begin brightly thanks to a Welbeck special!
Estupinan rushes in from the left flank and lays off a ball towards the middle, where a couple of Brighton players converge.
The ball ends up at Welbeck’s feet who unleashes a fearsome strike to the left of Kelleher which is buried into the net.
The Anfield faithful are stunned as Liverpool were quite sloppy in dealing with that advance.
2 mins: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck scores their first goal vs Liverpool on 31 March, 2024 at Anfield, Liverpool, UK. (Molly Darlington/Reuters] (Reuters)
- 10h ago
(13:02 GMT)
Kickoff
The players are out in the middle and ready for what should be a cracking contest ahead.
Liverpool will be going in with a 4-3-3 formation.
Brighton have elected to go with a 4-2-3-1 scheme.
The Reds are wearing their home all-red kit, while the Seagulls are in blue and white.
It will be Brighton who will kick things off, and they will be going left to right on your screens.
1 minute: Liverpool 0-0 Brighton
- 10h ago
(13:01 GMT)
Top players and team stats snapshot
- Mohamed Salah leads Liverpool with 15 goals this season – that’s third-best in the EPL.
- Liverpool has scored 65 goals this season: that’s second to Arsenal’s league-leading 70 goals. Brighton is seventh-best with 50 goals.
- Brighton’s Pascal Gross has a league-equaling best 10 assists on the season. Gross is also fourth-best in the EPL in passes on the season.
- 10h ago
(12:57 GMT)
Liverpool players warming up
Liverpool players warm up before the English Premier League match against Brighton at Anfield [Rui Vieira/AP Photo]
- 10h ago
(12:48 GMT)
Brighton – fast facts
Brighton has never won a Premier League title or FA Cup final.
The closest the Seagulls came was reaching the 1983 FA Cup final, agonisingly losing to Manchester United after a replay.
But they are on the up and up. In the 2022-2023 season, they finished sixth in the Premier League (Brighton’s highest top-flight finish ever) and for the first time qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
- 10h ago
(12:40 GMT)
Head-to-head
This will be the 40th meeting between the two sides with Liverpool claiming victory on 20 occasions compared with Brighton’s seven so far.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Reds, winning two in that run including an FA Cup victory last season.
- 10h ago
(12:31 GMT)
Other Liverpool team news
With so much at stake in the title fight with Arsenal and Manchester City, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is going with a strong line-up against Brighton with Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Darwin Nunez all playing.
- 11h ago
(12:24 GMT)
Brighton XI announced
Brighton XI: Bart Verbruggen (goalkeeper), Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (captain), Joel Veltman, Pervis Estupinan, Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba, Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder, Simon Adingra, Danny Welbeck
- 11h ago
(12:18 GMT)
Liverpool XI announced
Liverpool XI: Caoimhin Kelleher (goalkeeper), Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk (captain), Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz
- 11h ago
(12:16 GMT)
Key injury updates
- Liverpool is still missing key players to injury including Alisson (hamstring) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee). Scottish international Andy Robertson is also out (ankle).
- In a big blow for Brighton, they will be without their top goal scorer Joao Pedro (hamstring), who was initially expected to play today against the Reds.
- Two other Brighton key contributors – Kaoru Mitoma (back) and Solly March (knee) – are also out. Veteran midfielder – and former Liverpool player – James Milner will also miss the contest with a muscle strain.
- 11h ago
(12:06 GMT)
Did you know?
Did you know that Brighton has beaten Liverpool in two of their last three matches?
Take a look for yourself below. The Reds have struggled against the Seagulls in recent times.
Both teams are renowned for their attacking football, and if these last three matches are any guide, then there will be goals aplenty in today’s contest.
Result Date Competition
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool October 8, 2023 Premier League
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool January 29, 2023 FA Cup
Brighton 3-0 Liverpool January 14, 2023 Premier League
Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson in action with Brighton’s Simon Adingra in English Premier League at Brighton, Britain – October 8, 2023 [REUTERS/Toby Melville] (Reuters)
- 11h ago
(11:54 GMT)
Form guide – last five games
- Liverpool 4-0-1
- Brighton 2-2-1
In their last EPL match on March 10, Liverpool let a golden opportunity slip by to go top of the Premier League table when they drew 1-1 at home against one of their two main Premiership rivals, Manchester City.
That draw allowed Arsenal – Liverpool’s other main title challenger – to stay ahead of the Reds on top of the league table with both clubs on 64 points but with the Gunners ahead on goal difference.
Before that match, Liverpool had won four straight EPL games in dominating fashion, defeating Nottingham Forest (1-0), Luton (4-1), Brentford (4-1) and Burnley (3-1).
Brighton has two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five EPL games.
In their most recent Premier League contest on March 10, they defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 at home.
- 11h ago
(11:43 GMT)
Season snapshot – Liverpool vs Brighton
- Liverpool is second on England’s Premier League ladder; Brighton is in ninth position.
- Liverpool’s record for the season is 19 wins, 7 draws and 2 defeats; Brighton has 9 wins, 11 draws and 8 losses.
- Liverpool averages 2.32 goals score per match vs Brighton’s 1.79.
- Liverpool concedes 0.94 goals per match vs Brighton’s 1.57.
- The Reds have kept nine clean sheets this season; Brighton has four.
- 11h ago
(11:32 GMT)
An epic title race
What a season! It’s the first time in 10 years that only a single point separates the top three teams after 28 games.
- 12h ago
(11:26 GMT)
About Saturday
Our live match on Saturday saw Brentford and Manchester United share a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium in west London.
Mason Mount looked to have won it for the Red Devils in injury time but Kristoffer Ajer grabbed a deserved point for this side.
First published by: ALJAZEERA