Welbeck dents Liverpool's Champions League hopes in Brighton, Everton thrash Chelsea

BRIGHTON, England, March 21 : Liverpool's push for a Champions League place took another hit as Danny Welbeck struck in each half to give Brighton & Hove Albion a deserved 2-1 Premier League win on Saturday, the reigning champions' 10th league defeat of a faltering season.

Everton and Fulham both kept alive their European hopes as Everton cruised to a commanding 3-0 win over Chelsea to hand the visitors a fourth straight defeat in all competitions, and Fulham came back from a goal down to beat struggling Burnley 3-1.

Leeds United were hosting Brentford in Saturday's late game.

At the Amex Stadium, Liverpool remained fifth on 49 points with just one point from their last three league games in another flat display that was worsened by an early injury to Hugo Ekitike.

Welbeck scored both goals for Brighton, who are 10th on 43 points. He headed them in front after 14 minutes when Diego Gomez steered a deep cross back across goal before Milos Kerkez levelled following a Lewis Dunk error. 

Welbeck restored the lead with a VAR‑checked tap‑in shortly after halftime, his 12th league goal of the season.

"Disappointed," Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo told TNT Sports. "We wanted to win which is important in the situation we are in but it didn't go that way, so it's a difficult afternoon.

"We have to fight to win (the last) seven games."

Beto struck twice to help Everton climb to seventh in the standings on 46 points while Chelsea remained in sixth spot on 48.

The Portuguese striker opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, latching on to a pinpoint pass from James Garner before completing his double just after the hour, slipping the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Iliman Ndiaye sealed the victory with a sublime effort 14