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Liverpool were frustrated by VAR when Pascal Gross’s controversial late penalty salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw for Brighton at Amex Stadium on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp’s team took the lead thanks to a goal from Diogo Jota in the second half, after Brighton’s Neal Maupay missed a penalty in the first half. But Liverpool were surprised in injury time when Andrew Robertson’s challenge to Danny Welbeck was awarded a penalty after Stuart Attwell overturned his initial decision. Gross converted from the spot, leaving Klopp sarcastically applauding the referees at the end of a disappointing week for Liverpool after their shocking Champions League loss at home to Atalanta. Liverpool returned to the top of the table as a result of their draw, but the champions are just one point ahead of previous leaders Tottenham.
Tottenham would regain pole position if they avoid defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, while the Blues will lead if they win the London derby.
It was one of those days for Liverpool, who also correctly saw the goals disallowed by VAR for offside against Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
There was more bad news for injury-ravaged Liverpool when James Milner was forced to retire in the second half.
Klopp had claimed it was almost a “crime” that Liverpool had to appear in Saturday’s game early after playing in the Champions League just three days earlier.
He made six changes since Atalanta’s game when Jota, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Andrew Robertson, Takumi Minamino and Nathaniel Phillips entered the starting lineup.
Liverpool should have taken the lead in the opening moments when Fabinho unleashed a perfectly weighted long pass that caught Salah’s run, but the Egyptian shot wildly from inside the Brighton area.
– Penalty drama –
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez injured and Joel Matip rested, Klopp’s makeshift defense was exposed as Maupay’s pass sent anonymous Aaron Connolly into goal.
But with only Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to win, Connolly lost his temper and timidly directed his shot too far.
Connolly’s runs were causing trouble for Liverpool and when the Brighton forward made another timely foray in the 20th minute, Neco Williams, in a panic, tripped him in the penalty area after he was caught out of position.
Maupay stepped forward to shoot the penalty, but his side-foot effort deflected despite Alisson diving the wrong way.
It was a lucky escape for Liverpool and Maupay’s misery was compounded when he limped off injured moments later.
Liverpool thought they had hit back with a punch as Salah ran to Firmino’s pass and brushed past Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
But the VAR cut down on Salah’s celebrations as he was ruled offside by the narrower margins.
After a choppy first half, Klopp’s men finally found some rhythm following Jordan Henderson’s performance at halftime.
In a warning Brighton missed, Jota turned to fire a narrow shot and in the 60th minute the Portugal striker put Liverpool on.
Robertson found Salah and his pass put Jota on the edge of the Brighton area.
Jumping past two Brighton defenders, Jota deftly drilled the low shot into the bottom corner.
Jota has enjoyed an excellent start to life with the Premier League champions, scoring nine goals in 14 games since signing from Wolves in September.
Salah was substituted shortly after the goal, but did not seem happy with Klopp’s play, waving his hands and ignoring the German as he passed him to the bench.
Liverpool were seconds away from three points when Robertson went to punt in his own area when Welbeck approached.
Promoted
Robertson’s foot made contact with Welbeck, but there were few appeals from Brighton before Attwell awarded a contentious penalty after consulting with the pitch monitor.
With Maupay off the field, Gross took it and shot down the middle to save an unexpected point.
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