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Liverpool lost a chance to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League when a late penalty from Pascal Gross nullified Diogo Jota’s goal to give Brighton a 1-1 draw at the Amex.
The Reds came off the hook twice as Aaron Connolly approached and Neal Maupay fired wide from the spot, while the VAR ruled out the efforts of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for offside.
Jota’s clever shot through a packed penalty area, his eighth in as many games, seemed to be enough as the game entered injury time, but Andy Robertson was deemed fouled by Danny Welbeck in the 92nd minute and Gross scored a dramatic draw.
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Positive
The reigning champions were much better in the second half and Jota’s ninth goal in the Liverpool jersey was enough to send his team to the top of the league before the weekend’s remaining matches.
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2 Related negatives
You can’t give away two penalties in a game and expect not to be punished, and Klopp will be frustrated by his team’s lack of defensive discipline. Connolly was also nearly impossible to contain, but Gross’s late penalty will have crushed the Reds.
Manager rating out of 10
Jurgen Klopp, 7 years old – Normally the life and soul of the game, the Liverpool manager looked like a frustrated figure in the interval. His presentation of Jordan Henderson was exactly what was needed and it completely lifted his side, but his annoying demeanor after the game said it all.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alisson, 6 – Liverpool No. 1 once again had to fly off their line to smash the ball away from the lurking Connolly before Welbeck’s punch landed straight for the goalkeeper’s throat, but was comfortably hit from the point by Gross.
DF Neco Williams, 5 – Another great opportunity for the young defender who will have been relieved to see Maupay shoot wide from the spot after he awkwardly hit the heels of troubled Connolly.
DF Nathaniel Phillips, 6 years old A second Premier League appearance for the 23-year-old who won a major aerial battle with Maupay to calm his nerves and then produced a major challenge, but found himself busier than he probably expected thereafter.
DF Fabinho, 6 – The versatile Brazilian teamed up with Phillips in a somewhat unfamiliar center-back pair. He chose Salah’s early run with a graceful 40-yard pass, but was caught off guard when Connolly burst into goal and struggled with the Irishman’s pace.
DF Andy Robertson, 5 years We are so used to seeing the Scotsman running down the left, but it was his ability to change the play that caught our attention this time with an impressive pass to find Roberto Firmino. He too would have had an assist if Mane had fired a split second later, but it was severely deemed he fouled Welbeck in the area.
Diogo Jota of Liverpool in a rich vein of scoring form. Getty
MF James Milner, 7 – It was a typically robust performance from the experienced midfielder who looked equally stable on the right back, although Klopp will be sweating from his fitness after the 34-year-old had to be recalled with injury.
MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 6 – It was a disappointing first half for the Dutchman who was forced to sit down before the tireless hosts, but Henderson’s arrival allowed him to play more freely as Liverpool regained control.
MF Takumi Minamino, 6 – A quiet first half from the Japanese international who saw a pair of crosses repelled by the Seagulls defense before Matt Ryan comfortably held his effort from outside the area, but improved markedly after the break.
FW Mohamed Salah, 7 – After a poor performance against Atalanta, he sported a threat early on at Amex and, after VAR ruled out his own blow, he unleashed cleanly Jota who fired into the corner.
FROM Roberto Firmino, 6 – Quite often the mastermind behind Liverpool’s impressive linking game, often looking to lift the ball into space to the right and throw a delicious ball overhead to help, but the Egyptian was slightly offside.
FW Diogo Jota, 7 – After a whirlwind start to his Liverpool career, it took him just 78 seconds to race over Ben White, but he couldn’t make out Salah. The chances of the first half were limited thereafter, but he stole the headlines again after the break with an excellent finish.
Substitutes
MF Jordan Henderson, 6 years After a first part in which the visitors shouted for their patron and his presentation at the beginning of the second, the visitors felt completely calm.
MF, Curtis Jones, NR – The 19-year-old wasn’t deemed fit enough to train yesterday, but was still called up for the final stages when James Milner became the newest name on a growing disabled list.
FW Sadio Mane, 6 – He replaced Salah, who wasn’t too happy with it, just past the hour mark, but he was good value for money for his performance, although his bullet header was again scored by VAR.
Source: espn.co.uk
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