Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino both hit doubles as Liverpool enjoyed another fantastic away win to beat Brighton 5-1.
Brighton 1-5 Liverpool
Premier League, Amex Stadium
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Goals
Can 30′ (assist: Coutinho)
Firmino 31′ (assist: Coutinho)
Firmino 48′ (assist: Salah)
Murray 51′ (pen)
Coutinho 88′
Coutinho 89′
There was a major surprise when the Reds lined up, with Gini Wijnaldum and Emre Can joining Dejan Lovren in a three-man defence.
Liverpool saw lots of possession in the early stages, finding their feet with the new formation and makeshift defence.
The patient approach paid off when Emre Can powerfully headed home Philippe Coutinho‘s on the half hour.
And it was 2-0 68 seconds later, with Roberto Firmino then finishing from close range at the back post from Coutinho’s low ball across the face of goal.
Klopp’s side were confident and playing fantastically, controlling the game with sensible and patient football.
Half-time: Brighton 0-2 Liverpool
- Klopp makes 6 changes with a very makeshift defence
- 2 goals in 68 seconds midway through the first half
- Firmino scores seconds after Mignolet makes huge save
- Coutinho with 2 goals and 2 assists in superb showing
In the opening minutes of the second half, Simon Mignolet made a huge save to deny Glenn Murray from close range, and within seconds Liverpool countered to make it 3-0.
The front three of Mo Salah, Coutinho and Firmino all combined, with Firmino firing in for his 11th goal of the season.
Somehow, though, Brighton were handed a lifeline with minutes of that, with Premier League debutant referee Graham Scott somehow giving the home side a penalty, which Murray dispatched to make it 3-1.
That ridiculous penalty decision made the second half more nervy that it needed to have been.
Liverpool had chances to make it four, with some lovely play in attack again and Coutinho particularly on form.
At the other end, the home side had chances to make it 3-2, but Alexander-Arnold blocked Izquierdo with 10 minutes to go.
Coutinho gave the Reds’ the breathing space they deserved when he won a free-kick on the edge of the Brighton box, then hit the resulting free-kick under the wall.
And the Little Magician was at it again minutes later, scurrying from midfield and then hitting a shot which deflected past the keeper to make it 5-1.
TIA Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho
Referee: Graham Scott
Next Match: Spartak Moscow (home, Weds 6th December)
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