In summing up a season in which Liverpool have won another Premier League trophy, a 3-2 defeat at Brighton really won’t matter. Yet, it should. Two consecutive games in which they’ve blown a lead, two consecutive games in which the midfield has decided not to run, not to close down, not to tackle. But perhaps more significantly, for what’s expected to be a busy summer of recruitment, we’ve seen just why that recruitment is imperative, and why the club need to get it right.
Having taken the lead inside ten minutes on the south coast, through a tap in for Harvey Elliot, Liverpool, whilst far from their best, looked set fair. However, with the league already won and lacking intensity, frankly, they took liberties. That approach was never likely to succeed against a Brighton side chasing European football, despite Arne Slot’s men leading 2-1 at half-time. Dominik Szoboszlai put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time with a cross come shot, after Ayari had brought the hosts level.
Slot had made significant changes to the starting eleven; Elliot, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah, and Federico Chiesa all being given a start. Of course, having recently spent a week on the beach, we perhaps shouldn’t read too much into a defeat in which Liverpool twice led, but none of those who’ve made few starts this season covered themselves in glory. Chiesa was particularly ineffective, Quansah simply looks almost continually hesitant, and was to blame twice for Brighton’s winner, whilst Tsimikas showed just why Liverpool are being linked with another left back. Not that Conor Bradley defended much better than our ‘Greek Scouser’, both looking very vulnerable one on one, and both a little rash.
Brighton, trailing as the second half began and sensing Liverpool’s lack of desire, swarmed all over the red shirts. However, the Seagulls, in wasting so many opportunities when approaching the final third, saw Liverpool, and more surprisingly Mo Salah, miss a golden chance to secure victory. Cody Gakpo provided Liverpool’s captain for the day with a tap in from just a couple of yards, but somehow Salah missed, not even hitting the target. His frustration completed as Brighton equalised just minutes later, through Mitoma, who injected his team with the decisiveness previously lacking.
Slot, having made changes mid-way through the second half, actually saw his team get worse. Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez being particularly ineffective, whilst Luis Diaz seemed to have taken a vow not to shoot, despite numerous chances to do so. The changes having been made by both teams, it was Brighton, who Szoboszlai later said ‘wanted it more’, who took all three points. Hinshelwood, scoring from close range, after Quansah first failed to properly clear, then played the youngster on-side, despite a tight call by VAR.
Since Liverpool secured the league title, they’ve taken just one point. Inevitable to some extent, and in facing a Crystal Palace team who’ll surely still be celebrating their FA Cup victory, the final game of the season on Sunday will probably have the vibes of a testimonial. Yet, whilst not imperative that Liverpool sign off in style, a victory at Anfield, on the day they get their hands on the Premier League trophy, would be a more than fitting end to a league season to remember.
