Liverpool fight back to beat Brighton and take full advantage of Man City slip

Two goals in three minutes from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 and move back to the top of the Premier League.

Brighton deservedly led at the break through Ferdi Kadioglu’s early strike as Arne Slot’s side looked disjointed.

But the second half was a very different story and Liverpool were rewarded for a much-improved performance as Gakpo levelled in the 69th minute before Salah took his own personal tally to 10 goals in 17 appearances against Brighton moments later.

With Manchester City’s 32-match unbeaten record in the league coming to an end at Bournemouth, the win sees Liverpool go two points clear at the summit after 10 games.

After scoring twice in Wednesday’s 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Brighton on the south coast, Gakpo was one of only two players – alongside Dominik Szoboszlai – to keep his place in the Liverpool side as both managers restored their first-team regulars.

The first real chance fell to Darwin Núñez, who won the ball in midfield and rode a couple of challenges to charge into the box before seeing his shot palmed away for a corner by Bart Verbruggen.

But it was Brighton who had started the better of the two sides, pushing high and forcing mistakes from Liverpool in midfield.

And the visitors took the lead after 14 minutes. Kaoru Mitoma’s low cross from the left was behind Danny Welbeck but rolled through to Kadioglu, who smashed it beyond Caoimhin Kelleher and in off the far post.

Far from sitting back on their lead, Brighton continued to push forward and should have made it 2-0 in the 27th minute as Yasin Ayari’s superb pass put Georginio Rutter through on goal, but Kelleher made the save.

Liverpool were lacking fluidity going forward but had a chance