Liverpool are on course as Brighton fail to strike at Anfield
Liverpool's season has rarely gone smoothly, but this felt like a step into calmer waters. A 2-0 win over Brighton, powered by Hugo Ekitike's brace and Mohamed Salah's assist, lifted Arne Slote's side into sixth place and extended an unbeaten run that had been steadily gaining momentum.
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The storyline was inevitably dominated by Salah's return. Sidelined in midweek after an emotional spell at Leeds, the Egyptian started on the bench but was released early due to an injury to Joe Gomez. But the result itself spoke to something broader: the team had learned to deal with noise, disruption, and expectations.
An early strike sets the tone
Liverpool barely managed to settle the situation before they took control of the situation. In the first minute, Gomez's header fell tantalizingly to Ekikike, who adjusted his body and volleyed past Bart Verbruggen. It was more of an instinctive goal than a flourish, but it set the rhythm that Liverpool wanted.
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Brighton, lively but not ruthless, offered space and opportunity in equal measure. Alisson denied Diego Gomez as he came through cleanly and opportunities came and went. Each miss proved increasingly costly, especially as Liverpool began to regain their composure in midfield, even with Dominik Szoboszlai replacing him at right-back.
New Ekitike coordinator
Ekiteke Day went far beyond its objectives. He stretched Brighton's backline, found pockets between defenders and repeatedly offered angles to Florian Wirtz and Salah. He could have had more, pushing in from close range and firing wide after some clever play.
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His second goal within the hour came from a familiar Liverpool source. Salah's corner was deflected to the back post, where Ekikike was left unmarked and headed home for his 10th time of the season. This underlined the growing confidence in both set-pieces and Ekiteka as a central figure under Slote.
Salah's return adds advantage
Salah's contribution was measured but significant. His assist tally took him to 277 Premier League goals for Liverpool, a new competition record for a single club. Beyond the numbers, his presence sharpened Liverpool's transitions and increased the tempo in the final third.
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There was a late chance to cap the comeback with a goal, but Salah fired wide after Federico Chiesa's deft pass. Despite this, his plaudits from all four Anfield teams seemed significant as they came ahead of another looming African Cup of Nations absence.
Brighton leaves club with regret
Brighton will consider this a lost day. Thirteen tries, an expected goals rate of 1.91 and repeated trips into the Liverpool penalty area produced nothing tangible. Their behavior was determined by extravagance, not ambition.
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Mistakes also played a part, especially in the build-up to Liverpool's first leg, with key chances slipping away from Diego Gomez and Brian Gruda. By the start of the game the scene was familiar, the attractive play negated by the lack of a cut.
Liverpool are moving forward with back-to-back wins and no draws, Brighton are down to ninth and the gap between performance and result seems wider for one team than the other.
