Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah goals help Liverpool stroll past Brighton to close gap at top

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:58 am

Liverpool strolled to a comfortable 2-0 win at Brighton on Saturday to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Luis Diaz's first-half header was followed by a Mohamed Salah penalty after the break as Liverpool bounced back from their defeat to Inter Milan in midweek.

Salah had to be substituted following his goal with a foot injury but that was the only blip on an enjoyable afternoon for Jurgen Klopp's side.

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Liverpool are now three points behind City and face a challenging trip to fourth-place chasing Arsenal on Wednesday.

"We were good, we knew Brighton are a really good team that can create problems, that's what we saw from the beginning," Klopp told BT Sport in a postmatch interview.

"Like the last game we need to get used to the opponents. They adapt to us a lot and play in areas to try and hurt us. We were really strong and scored a great goal.

"We had really good moments with massive chances where we missed the final pass. But I'm happy. There were moments at the the end where I'd like to control the ball more but it's a difficult moment."

Mohamed Salah sealed the win for Liverpool with a vital second-half penalty.
Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Brighton started the game as the better team but it was Liverpool who took the lead after 19 minutes.

Joel Matip lofted a great pass into the path of Diaz who headed the ball into the net but was subsequently taken out by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

VAR took a look at the incident for violent conduct but the goalkeeper did not receive a card for the late and high challenge.

The visitors started to control the game after the goal and had a chance to double their lead before the break but Salah's tame effort was easily saved by Sanchez.

Brighton should have equalised a minute into the second half but Leandro Trossard blazed over the bar from close range.

Salah almost made Brighton pay moments later but his deflected effort came off the crossbar and then missed another good chance minutes later.

The Egypt international was given the chance to make up for his missed chances when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Yves Bissouma handled Naby Keita's shot inside the area.

Salah smashed the ball down the middle to double Liverpool's lead and score the club's 2,000th goal in Premier League history -- only Manchester United have scored more goals in the competition.

The forward was taken off shortly afterwards with a knock to his foot and was replaced by Diogo Jota.

Brighton threatened late on and Alisson produced a fine save to deny Danny Welbeck as Liverpool held on for another clean sheet.

"It is always pleasing to come away from home and get the three points," Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said after the game. "Brighton are a good footballing side. I know they've lost the last few but they are always dangerous.

"They've troubled us at times over the past couple of years so it was a really big game for us today and we delivered. We are delighted."