Brighton 0-1 Liverpool: Mo Salah scores the reds 50th of the season

Premier League
Saturday 12 January 2019 - 3:00 pm
Falmer Stadium
Brighton0
1Liverpool
Show Match Events
49'Salah ⚽️
March off, Knockaert on ↔️66'
Murray off, Andone on ↔️66'
72'↔️ Shaqiri off, Milner on
Groß off, Kayal on ↔️78'
90'↔️ Mane off, Keïta on
90'↔️ Salah off, Origi on
Possession %
2872
Total Shots
710
Shots on Target
3
Shots Blocked
22
Offside
5
Hide Match Events

Liverpool gained their first win of 2019 and reached the 50 point mark in the Premier League with a Mo Salah penalty.

There were a total of nine changes from the midweek FA Cup defeat as Klopp brought back many of the big guns.  With the central defensive crisis continuing, Fabinho kept his place there partnering Virgil van Dijk.   Joel Matip was named on the bench - suggesting there is some light at the end of the tunnel in that regard.

In midfield, Shaqiri kept his place with Henderson and Wijnaldum back in the side.

Brighton have a defensive record far better than their current 13th place in the Premier League suggests, and in the first half it showed.

The reds were dominant in possession but through a combination of two aerial experts at centre-back and a rigid shape of defence and midfield, the reds struggled to make any in-roads.

Both Firmino with his feet and Shaqiri with his head, saw chances squirm wide but the reds didn't manage a shot on target in the first half.

Initial concern for the reds had been concerning Trent Alexander-Arnold.  He spent a period of the first half looking like he may come off - he was thought to have picked up a knock during the pre match warm-up.

As it happened: BHAFC 0-1 LFC

Both sides went into the break goalless.

But the reds came out looking more fluid in the second half and within five minutes Mo Salah had been dragged down in the area for a penalty.

He stepped up to convert his 14th Premier League goal of the season and the reds 50th of the campaign.

The goal energised the game with both sides playing more attacking football.  Brighton had scored in every home league game of the season up until this point and Locadia's drilled shot forced a series of corners for the home side.

At the other end Roberto Firmino hit a powerful shot that rebounded with some venon back off goalkeeper David Button.

Gini Wijnaldum also went close but the reds saw the game out in relative comfort.

The reds first win of 2019 and with both Spurs and Man City not playing today another crank up of the pressure from the reds.  Liverpool lead the Premier League tonight by seven points.

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