Brighton Shock Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to hurt champions' title defense

Premier league: Brighton Shock Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to hurt champions' title defense

 

Elated Graham Potter celebrates with his players after pulling off a shock win at Anfield. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Brighton and Hove Albion beat Liverpool on Wednesday at Anfield 1-0 to put a harsh reality check on the Kops’ title defense and ultimately throw them out of the championship race after City beat Burnley to extend lead over them.

 

Steven Alzate scored the game's only goal on 56 minutes as he bundled home following a Dan Burn cross past Liverpool's stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who was playing due to an illness for first choice goalkeeper Alisson.

At the time Liverpool kicked off at Anfield, they had already gone seven points behind Manchester City who already finished their game against Sean Dyche’s men at the Etihad and knew they must win to keep the pressure up.

 

Liverpool may have rediscovered their scoring touch away from home with eight goals in their last three matches, but their home struggles returned as Mohammed Salah was particularly wasteful and guilty of selfishness when other players were well placed.

 

Salah and Roberto Firminho both missed chances after Brighton's goal, while Kelleher was called into action in the Liverpool goal.

 

Liverpool's defeat to Burnley in their home match on Jan. 21 was their first Premier League loss at Anfield in 68 matches. This is the first time they have suffered back-to-back home reverses since September 2012.

Liverpool are yet to score a goal at home since 27^th of December when Sadio Mane scored their opener in the 1-1 draw against Westbromich Albion, the Senegalese is sorely missed as they team has failed to tick in his prolonged absence.

 

Liverpool will play Manchester City on Sunday, knowing a loss to the Citizens will blow them completely out of the title race as Pep Guardiola’s team would go ten clear of Jurgen Klopp’s men with the former champions having a game in hand.