Brighton pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win over Premier League champions Liverpool on Monday, as Jack Hinshelwood came off the bench to score a dramatic late goal at the Amex Stadium.
Early Goals and a Promising Start
Arne Slot’s Liverpool side got off to a fast start when Harvey Elliott netted in the ninth minute after a sharp move involving Conor Bradley and Mohamed Salah. The goal marked the first time in Liverpool’s history they have scored in every away game of a league season.
But Brighton hit back midway through the first half. Yasin Ayari finished brilliantly from the edge of the box after a clever lofted pass from Brajan Gruda. The Sweden international’s low shot gave Alisson no chance.
Just before halftime, Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s lead with a swerving strike from the right wing that caught Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen off guard. Szoboszlai’s smile after the goal hinted it might have been more cross than shot—but it counted all the same.
Brighton Fight Back in Style
Brighton came out strong after the break, forcing saves from Alisson through efforts from Danny Welbeck and Gruda. Liverpool, celebrating their 20th league title and preparing for a trophy presentation this weekend, looked off the pace.
Mohamed Salah, captaining Liverpool on his 300th Premier League appearance, had a golden chance to put the game to bed. But the forward missed an open goal from just five yards, flicking Cody Gakpo’s cross wide.
Brighton made Salah pay for that error. In the 69th minute, Alisson parried a shot from Welbeck, only for Kaoru Mitoma to smash home the rebound and level the match.
Super Sub Seals It for Brighton
Then came the moment of magic from Brighton’s bench. Jack Hinshelwood, who had just come on, scored with his very first touch. Matt O’Riley’s low cross found Hinshelwood in space, and he made no mistake in the 85th minute to complete Brighton’s comeback.
Liverpool’s Post-Title Dip Continues
Since wrapping up the title in a 4-0 win over Tottenham on April 27, Liverpool have failed to win in three matches. They’ve drawn with Arsenal and lost to both Chelsea and Brighton.
Slot had warned that motivating his squad after securing the league was a challenge. That seemed clear as the players returned from a celebratory trip to Dubai and were visibly off the pace. Even Slot himself had spent time in Ibiza this week.
Despite the dip in form, Liverpool will lift the Premier League trophy at Anfield this Sunday against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, followed by an open-top bus parade through the city on Monday.