JURGEN KLOPP could not blame VAR on his eighth anniversary as Liverpool boss as the Reds blew their chance of forgetting their misery at Spurs.
Lewis Dunk grabbed a deserved equaliser for Brighton 12 minutes from time in an entertaining battle after Mo Salah scored twice before half-time.
Ivory Coast midfielder Simon Adringra, impressive in only his third start, put Brighton ahead only for Liverpool star Salah to stun the home team with his double inside six minutes.
Salah’s second was a penalty after Pascal Gross pulled the shirt of Dominik Szoboszlai and despite some Liverpool player’s wanting a red card, VAR operator Christopher Kavanagh felt Szoboszlai was not moving towards goal.
Just eight days earlier, Luis Diaz’s goal at Tottenham was incorrectly ruled out and maybe, that match in north London with nine men took something out of Klopp’s team psychologically.
They were certainly not at their best on the south coast.
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Equally, you have to give yet more credit to Brighton. They are still adjusting to life as a European club and impact in terms of wear and tear has not helped the club’s injury situation.
Incredibly, De Zerbi made six changes from the 6-1 hammering at Aston Villa including a first Premier League start for Carlos Baleba who looked as though he had been playing in his team’s midfield for ages.
And even more staggering is the fact this brought it to 50 changes in just seven top-flight matches.
Brighton had caused Liverpool a few early problems, particularly with their clever set-pieces, but they were handed a gift of a goal, even though Adingra delivered a fine finish.
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Alexis Mac Allister, who left for Liverpool in a £52million summer deal, had been given a good reception from Brighton’s fans when his name was read out by the PA announcer.
But the home supporters were even happier when Mac Allister failed to anticipate a poor pass from Virgil van Dijk with Adingra seizing his opportunity.
He took a couple of touches and, spotting that Alisson was out of position, took a shot from 25 yards which the Brazilian keeper was unable to keep out.
Much to Klopp’s bemusement, Baleba marched unchallenged through the visiting defence and dragged a shot wide
Yet Liverpool scored with their first decent attack just before the break at a time when Brighton looked more likely to get a second.
Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz were given too much space in central midfield, Harvey Elliott allowed Darwin Nunez’s square ball to run to Salah and he dispatched a lot shot from 12 yards pat Bart Veb
Brighton’s fans sang: “We want a replay”
Yet lucky to be level, Liverpool hit Brighton with a one-two from Salah.
They were caught out following a poor pass out from the back by keeper Bart Verbruggen and Gross pulled the shirt of Szoboszlai.
Although it was given for that offence, Baleba then fouled Diaz so Liverpool were going to get one either way.
Brighton needed to recover quickly following that disastrous end to the first half and Adingra was denied a leveller by a decent save from Alisson.
Ryan Gravenberch, a £34million arrival from Bayern Munich, replaced Elliott for the second half and proved why he has not been signed for goals.
Although he got one in the Europa League on Thursday against Union Saint- Gilloise, he somehow failed to score his first Premier League goal after firing Szoboszlai’s cross against the bar from a couple of yards.
An increasingly-frustrated De Zerbi was then booked for his protests after Brighton failed to forget a penalty. He was in the wrong, though, as Kaoru Mitoma’s shot lifted off van Dijk’s leg and then hit his arm.
But Brighton finally got their goal thanks to their captain fantastic.
Andy Robertson failed to block the free-kick by Solly March and with the rest of his team-mates expecting Alisson to come for the cross, Dunk stuck out a leg to score.
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Joao Pedro should have sealed for Brighton but lifted a shot over the bar when he should have scored.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
