A striking display by Belgian Leandro Trossard in Roberto de Zerbi's debut as manager of Brighton, author of a treble at Anfield exploiting Liverpool's defensive weakness, increases the problems of Jürgen Klopp's team to eleven points from the head in a duel in which the Spanish Robert Sánchez went from the hell of a goalkeeper to heaven with a final saving save.
It is the life of goalkeepers, singled out for mistakes that cost more than other teammates and heroes with decisive interventions. It was experienced by Robert Sánchez, a fixture of Luis Enrique in the Spanish team, after a great demonstration by Brighton at Anfield that was about to come to nothing after provoking with a fist in the air after a corner kick, the goal that meant the comeback from Liverpool. But on Trossard's day there was time for the goalkeeper to pull off a decisive downhill mitt in the closing seconds.
The staging of Roberto de Zerbi on the Brighton bench could not leave better feelings. Always brave, bringing out the colors in the defensive work of the 'reds', saved on several occasions by their goalkeeper, Alisson, in the face of Jürgen Klopp's desperation.
But it is that the position in the upper zone of Brighton (fourth) is not accidental. He had already stormed Old Trafford and the London Stadium, had not lost in his last two visits to Anfield and exploiting his young talent, ran over Liverpool from the start. A miscalculation by Henderson, aided by Fabinho's lack of intensity on a ball cleared by his defense, allowed Trossard to blow up the game after four minutes. He set Alexander-Arnold up with great control and crossed his unstoppable shot.
The proposal of a two-way match from Liverpool would not be rejected, despite their advantage on the scoreboard, by Brighton, capable of being about to score in their goal with Robert Sánchez's overconfidence with his feet, as to threaten in each attack without rival opposition. Welbeck made the central defenders go crazy, found spaces in the finishing zone and only Alisson prevented the second with his first worthwhile intervention.
The control of Liverpool was taken over by Thiago Alcántara. With quality but lacking rhythm after being injured on the first day of the Premier and having returned in the Champions League. A robbery of his in the high zone allowed Firmino to enjoy the first. Slow when arming the shot. His moment in the game was yet to come. Farther from his identity is Salah, who only enjoyed one that Robert safely stopped him.
Just before Trossard's second blow, a pass from March, after having beaten all of Welbeck in every action of the play. Liverpool's defensive attitude was a burden to overcome based on speed in their attacking football. And Firmino hooked him to the game with a goal conceded from the VAR for Salah's position before the assist.
He paid dearly for the moments that Brighton lost control in the final stretch of the first act and much of the second. He took advantage of Liverpool, who had been saved from the third when Caicedo pardoned and went on to equalize with a quick counterattack, punishing a bad retreat by his rival. Firmino's quality to fake a shot that he turned into a cut and defined with precision.
He even had the treble when De Zerbi's team failed to anesthetize the match. but he headed the comeback goal that would come in the 63rd minute due to a blunder by Robert Sánchez. He mistimed after a corner, he threw his right fist into the air with the misfortune that without seeing his trajectory, he fell on Webster who propelled him into his own goal.
But Brighton had not said their last word when they felt all lost and it seemed that Liverpool were taking control, they launched their last successful attempt. Alisson first avoided the tie with a header from Welbeck but he could do nothing with seven to go when Trossard, free of a mark, at the second post after a good action by the Japanese Mitoma, closed the game of his life in a unique setting.
It was when Robert Sánchez's revenge came, in added time, when he flew to the free kick adjusted to the Alexander-Arnold post, to avoid defeat in added time with the tip of his right glove and aggravate the situation of a Liverpool that he has won 10 of a possible 21 points.
3 - Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Milner, m.59); Fabinho, Thiago (Darwin Nunez, m.89), Henderson (Elliott, m.59); Salah, Carvalho (Luis Diaz, 46) and Firmino (Diogo Jota, 75).
3 - Robert Sánchez; March, Webster, Dunk, Veltman, Estupiñan; Mac Allister, Caicedo; Gross (Mitoma, m.66), Welbeck y Trossard (Lamptey,m m.87).
Goles: 0-1, m.4: Trossard. 0-2, m.17: Trossard. 1-2, m.33: Firmino. 2-2, m.54: Firmino. 3-2, m.63: Webster. 3-3, m.83: Trossard.
Referee: A.Madley. He booked Alexander-Arnold (87) for Liverpool; and Estupiñan (29) for Brighton.
Incidents: match corresponding to the ninth day of the Premier League played at Anfield.
