Welbeck brace helps Brighton beat Liverpool | OneFootball

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Brighton & Hove Albion handed Liverpool their 10th league defeat of the season.

Arne Slot's side went into this game hoping to build on the fine Champions League performance against Galatasaray against the Seagulls team that won three of their last four games in the Premier League.

It was the home side who looked the better for much of the game with Liverpool looking leggy compared to Brighton's running.

The Seagulls took the lead in the 14th minute and found Diego Gómez at the far post. The Paraguayan looped a header back across goal where Danny Welbeck was able to apply the finishing touch.

Liverpool responded well to the setback and almost levelled through Alexis Mac Allister whose header forced a fine save out of Bart Verbruggen.

The equaliser eventually came in bizarre circumstances. After Liverpool recycled a corner back to Giorgi Mamardashvili the goalkeeper launched a long direct ball forward. Lewis Dunk tried to nod it on to his goalkeeper but only succeeded in allowing Milos Kerkez to steal in and level the score.

The home side really took control of the second half and restored their lead 11 minutes after the restart. Yankuba Minteh put in a cross from the left with Jack Hinshelwood on the end of it who gave Welbeck and easy close-range finish once again.

VAR had a look at it for offside with suspicions that Welbeck had strayed but the forward had just, and only just, managed to stay behind the ball.

The Seagulls had chances for a third in particular Minteh forcing a solid stop out of Mamardashvili while the introduction of Kaoru Mitoma from the bench caused the Reds' backline all sorts of issues.

This result means Brighton and in the fight for European football while Liverpool miss the chance to leapfrog Aston Villa and give Chelsea added impetus. 

Incidents: The story of the match

10':

Missed opportunity. Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool attempted a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area.

10':

Missed opportunity. Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool took a right-footed shot from over 35 yards after a quick counterattack.

10':

Missed opportunity! Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool took a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it sailed over the bar. The assist came from Jeremie Frimpong.

10':

Missed opportunity! Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool took a right-footed shot from over 35 yards during a quick counterattack, but it went wide.

Brighton and Hove Albion takes the lead, 1-0 against Liverpool. Danny Welbeck scores with a header from close range, directing the ball into the top left corner. The assist comes from Diego Gómez, who also delivered a header.Brighton and Hove Albion takes the lead, 1-0 against Liverpool. Danny Welbeck scores with a header from close range, directing the ball into the top left corner. The assist comes from Diego Gómez, who also delivered a header.

21':

Opportunity wasted. Diego Gómez from Brighton and Hove Albion attempted a header from the middle of the penalty area.

21':

Missed opportunity! Diego Gómez from Brighton and Hove Albion attempted a header from the center of the box, but it sailed high and to the right. The cross was delivered by Yankuba Minteh.

24':

Missed opportunity. Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a free kick.

24':

Opportunity wasted. Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a free kick, but it narrowly misses the target.

It's now Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Liverpool 1. Milos Kerkez has scored for Liverpool, firing a left-footed shot from the heart of the box straight into the center of the net.It's Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Liverpool 1. Milos Kerkez scores for Liverpool with a left-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area, placing it right into the center of the net.

32':

Opportunity wasted. Jack Hinshelwood of Brighton and Hove Albion took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, narrowly missing the target. The assist came from Danny Welbeck.

37':

Missed opportunity. Mats Wieffer from Brighton and Hove Albion attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

37':

Missed opportunity. Mats Wieffer from Brighton and Hove Albion took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed over the goal and to the right.

45 +2':

Missed opportunity. James Milner from Brighton and Hove Albion took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a corner kick.

Brighton and Hove Albion takes the lead with a score of 2-1 against Liverpool. Danny Welbeck finds the back of the net with a left-footed shot from close range, placing it right in the center of the goal. The assist comes from Jack Hinshelwood.

65':

Opportunity wasted. Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool attempted a header from the center of the penalty area but failed to convert. The chance was set up by Dominik Szoboszlai, who delivered a cross following a corner kick.

71':

Missed opportunity. James Milner of Brighton and Hove Albion attempted a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area but sent it wide to the left following a corner kick.