Liverpool hosted Brighton on Saturday evening and suffered a draw but kept their unbeaten record alive.
Brighton & Hove Albion rallied back from a two-goal deficit against Liverpool to draw 2-2 and keep their top-four hopes alive.
Seagull’s Solly March attempt forced Alisson early on to make a wonderful save. The Reds seized the lead when Jordan Henderson slammed in a great goal from Mohamed Salah’s fourth-minute cross. Naby Keita’s injury prompted Liverpool to make a first-half substitution, indeed worrying times for Klopp.
Keita’s replacement Oxlade-Chamberlain set up the second goal with a beautiful cross for Mane to head in on 24 minutes. Enock Mwepu scored his first Premier League goal as he floated the ball over Alisson from beyond the penalty area.
Then, on 65 minutes, Leandro Trossard equalized, finishing off a ball from ex-Reds midfielder Adam Lallana in a fluid play initiated by keeper Robert Sanchez.
Liverpool are still in second place, but they are now three points behind Chelsea. Brighton slipped to seventh place, but are only one point below the top four.
Key numbers from the game
Liverpool only picked up one point in their two Premier League meetings with Brighton last season. They lost 1-0 in this identical match in February, after winning their previous six Premier League encounters with the Seagulls.
Brighton wanted to make it back-to-back triumphs against Liverpool in all competitions for the first time after their 1-0 success at Anfield in February. In fact, the Seagulls have only won five of their previous 33 encounters with the Reds (D9 L19).
It was the 250th time Liverpool had led by at least two goals in a League home game, but just the sixth time they had lost.
In all competitions, Brighton has avoided a loss in three straight meetings with Liverpool (W1 D2). This is more than they had in their previous 12 matches (W1 D1 L10).
Only in 1978-79 (33), Liverpool have scored more goals in the first ten games of Premier League season than they have so far this season.
Liverpool 2-2 Brighton: Post match reactions
Klopp’s reaction after dropping two points
It feels like a defeat, even though I know it’s not. It’s a deserved point for Brighton. We opened the door for them. It’s unnecessary because in our good moments we were really good.
When asked about Sadio Mane’s goal
Sadio Mane’s second goal is my favourite goal of all six years probably in Liverpool because how we put him under pressure was insane but it hit his hand – that was unlucky.
Klopp on where the game went downhill
We didn’t defend the half-spaces right, we slowed the game down in the wrong moments, we didn’t show initiative in other moments and that’s not good enough. Our quality should have been to have the ball and be smarter or clever. We opened the door for them and we paid the price.
What’s next for Liverpool?
Liverpool will try to stay on top of their Champions League group. The Reds will face Simeone’s Atletico, who are currently second with just four points. Jurgen Klopp’s side are eying to win the group with this fixture after their previous successful 3-2 encounter.
