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Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Liverpool 5: Philippe Coutinho leads Brazilian masterclass as Reds run riot

Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho both got their names on the scoresheet - AFP
Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho both got their names on the scoresheet - AFP

Anyone with cash to spare ahead of the World Cup would be advised to invest some in Brazil. Frankly, any team with Philippe Coutinho in it has a chance. 

Or at least, any team with Coutinho in the sort of dazzling, Barcelona-tempting form he showed here. Liverpool’s No 10 was majestic on the south coast, involved in all five of Liverpool’s goals as his side eviscerated an unusually brittle Brighton. With serious business on the horizon in the shape of Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday and the Merseyside derby next weekend, he delivered precisely the sort of outing to have ­Jurgen Klopp purring. 

“It is important it was good,” Liverpool’s manager said. “We need the points. We want to stay as close as possible to the teams in front. We need to win, I’m happy about that.” 

It was a particularly satisfactory afternoon given Klopp was obliged to mend his defence. With Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan injured and Joe Gomez sick, he drafted two midfielders – Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum – into an emergency back three. 

But if Liverpool had an exploitable weakness at the back, the depressing news for a record crowd at the Amex Stadium was that Brighton lacked the resources to cut them open. That was evident as early as 15 minutes into the game. Izzy Brown, the Chelsea loanee, skipped past Trent Alexander-Arnold and fizzed over a telling cross. It landed at Glenn Murray’s feet on the penalty spot. But the veteran forward spooned his shot high, wide and not particularly handsome. It was the kind of chance you sensed needed to be taken. 

Under Chris Hughton’s stewardship, Brighton are unquestionably well-organised, spirited, wholehearted. But what they lack is what Liverpool have in abundance, a class evident every time the ball was fed to their electric-heeled front three. While the home crowd groaned in frustration at every misplaced Brighton pass, from the moment Coutinho first received the ball there was a sense he would do something useful with it. When he arced a beautiful crossfield ball to Alexander-Arnold, for instance, it deserved more than the full-back’s spooned cross. 

Emre Can - Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Liverpool 5: Philippe Coutinho leads Brazilian masterclass as Reds run riot - Credit: Getty Images 
Emre Can (recond right) scored the opening goal of the afternoon on the south coast Credit: Getty Images

It was only a matter of time before Liverpool’s superiority produced return. And after half an hour, a corner swung in from the right by Coutinho found Can evading his marker to thump home a header. Hughton had barely stopped raging at his dozing defence when, just 79 seconds later, Liverpool struck again. 

It was the kind of goal that Klopp would take to a desert island, his ideal Liverpool breakaway. Mohamed Salah, a jinking, darting source of continual panic in the Brighton defence, tore down the middle. With the Brighton back four on their heels, he pushed the ball wide to Coutinho, whose invitation of a cross found Roberto Firmino, who passed the ball deftly into the net. 

This was typical of Coutinho’s afternoon. Everything he did came loaded with threat. One dribble, switching the ball quickly between his feet before being hauled down by a Brighton defender was a thing of beauty. 

It was not that Brighton didn’t try. As the second half began, they pressed and probed. Brown, who was having a fine afternoon, crossed with almost Coutinho precision. Murray met it perfectly. But his shot was brilliantly saved by Simon Mignolet, making his 150th Premier League appearance. 

And, even as Hughton held his head in his hands in his technical area, the ball bounced away into Liverpool possession. Coutinho (who else) eased forward, finding the accelerating Salah, who barrelled onwards before passing to Firmino to slot away his second. Twenty seconds from jeopardy to celebration: Kloppball to perfection. 

Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson - Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Liverpool 5: Philippe Coutinho leads Brazilian masterclass as Reds run riot - Credit: Getty Images
Coutinho was at his brilliant best as Liverpool tore Brighton apart Credit: Getty Images

That might have been the end for Brighton. But, to their credit, they pressed on. Brown earned a corner from which, during a push-me-pull-you in the box, referee Graham Scott deemed Jordan Henderson to have fouled Shane Duffy. Murray, given immediate opportunity to atone for his miss, converted the penalty. 

The problem for the home side was that Liverpool, and Coutinho in particular, did not appear sated. And the more Brighton pushed forward, the more the danger of counter-attacks lurked. Even as Hughton sent on fresh legs in the shape of Solly March and Jose Izquierdo, Coutinho was working every opportunity. And he cunningly deployed a free-kick (won, naturally by him) from the edge of the area, grasscutting it under the Brighton wall past a statuesque Matt Ryan into the net. It was a goal Klopp said came courtesy of his analysis department, who had noted the Brighton wall’s leaping habit. 

Hughton, though, was dismissive of such a notion. “The moment you don’t jump Coutinho whips one in the corner,” he said. “Praise the player.” 

If that was a goal born on a computer screen, a minute later, the Brazilian demonstrated his improvisational prowess, darting unopposed from the halfway line before firing in a shot which Lewis Dunk diverted past Ryan. 

“They gave us a harsh lesson and we have to learn from it,” was Hughton’s view. It was harsh indeed. Though perhaps the harshest truth was that, with Coutinho in this sort of form, Liverpool were in a different league altogether. 

4:51PM

FULL TIME

A clinical, explosive Liverpool performance which Brighton just couldn't handle. Their gameplan was to frustrate and it worked for a while but as soon as the defence was breached, the floodgates opened. There was a clear gap in talent between these two - Hughton has done a superb job to get Brighton so high in the table when opponents have players like Coutinho, Firmino and Salah, who were all excellent this afternoon.

4:49PM

90 mins +3

Solanke is on for Firmino for the final few minutes. 

4:47PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL

And it's five! Poor Lewis Dunk! Coutinho waits for the pass, turns his man and tries to bend a shot to the far corner. Dunk gets in the way and chests it past his own goalkeeper. 

Brighton 1 - 5 Liverpool (Lewis Dunk, 89 min)

 

4:46PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL

Clever girl.

Brighton 1 - 4 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho, 87 min)

Coutinho shapes to put it top corner and then rolls the ball under the jumping wall. The goalkeeper is completely beaten. Magic from the Brazilian! 

4:44PM

87 mins

Coutinho pulls defenders all over the place with a mazy run and is brought down in the D. He has a chance to bend one into the top corner from the set piece.

4:42PM

85 mins

Possession: Brighton vs Liverpool

Or is it over? Brighton are looking to close the gap! Izquierdo breaks away into the box and is denied a goal by a block in the Liverpool penalty area.

Henderson goes down in the area as he tries to ride a tackle but gets his ankle caught. It's not a penalty and Henderson gets up to his feet eventually.

4:40PM

83 mins

Everything has slowed down a bit now. Both teams seem to know this one is done.

4:36PM

79 mins

Oxlade-Chamberlain is being given his instructions. Salah and Firmino still pressing high up the pitch, Coutinho just behind them. Wijnaldum hasn't looked entirely comfortable at centre-back today and keeps coming onto his right foot or passing back to Mignolet. Without the penalty they'd have a clean sheet though so perhaps it's worked as intended? 

Salah comes off for The Ox.

4:33PM

76 mins

Brighton are on the attack now and have Liverpool pinned back. I'd imagine we'll see a change from Klopp soon to put some energy back in the midfield.

4:31PM

73 mins

So close Murray! He's a constant threat in that penalty area! The ball is lumped long, headed down into the box and Murray volleys it but puts it just wide.

Out: Brighton 1 - 3 Liverpool (Glenn Murray, 73 min)

It looks like Can has picked up an injury, possibly to his groin, which is what he's currently holding while wincing. I've done that one myself, pal. It's nae good.

4:28PM

70 mins

Gross curls the ball in, nobody can get a clear head and it drops for Stephens at the corner of the area. His effort is wide.

Knockaert comes off, March is on. Izquierdo replaces Brown.

4:26PM

69 mins

Liverpool are in again! Brighton give the ball away clumsily and Coutinho is played in to the box, cuts onto his right foot and hits a low shot that clatters back off the post. It doesn't matter though, he was offside. Brighton survive! 

Brown goes on another dribble, cuts past Can and wins a free-kick on the edge of the area. Can moans about it angrily but his leg was left sticking out and he caught the winger. 

4:23PM

66 mins

Mignolet's distribution has been dreadful. He's so nervous on the ball, never trusts his ability to find a pass and has now tried to chip the ball out to Alexander-Arnold and handed possession straight back to Brighton. 

Liverpool are in! This must be four! Firmino steals it high up the pitch and has one defender to beat with Salah to the right! He passes wide, Salah has to control a bouncing ball, defenders get back... and Salah's shot is low at the goalkeeper. 

Attempt Saved: Brighton 1 - 3 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah, 65 min)

 

4:19PM

63 mins

Look at the difference in possession now. Brighton have totally turned it around, Liverpool now the team sat deeper waiting to pounce. That does actually suit them perfectly though... Brighton need to be careful!

Possession: Brighton vs Liverpool

And here's a picture of Murray's penalty.

murray goal - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Bruno is lucky not be off here. He's dived into a high slide tackle on Robertson and is fortunate that the Scot sees it coming and adjusts his body shape. If his standing leg had been planted he might have needed a new after that. Yellow card - could easily have been red. 

4:17PM

61 mins

Brown has been really impressive on the Brighton left today. He can cut wide or inside and Alexander-Arnold has struggled with him all game. He gets another teasing cross into the area for Firmino but Brighton head away. 

Can tries to keep the ball near his own box, twists and turns looking for the passing option, goes back to Mignolet... who boots it clear. Why. Why? WHY?!

4:15PM

58 mins

emre can  - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Credit: GETTY IMAGES

That's Emre Can's goal from the first half. Love a photo from behind the net. So good.

 

4:12PM

55 mins

Salah wins a free-kick as he tries to run past Dunk, who just catches the Egyptian with a trailing leg. Salah will take the set piece from wide right and probably put it into the area for a header.

That's exactly what he does but Brighton get the ball cleared away.

4:08PM

GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL

Brighton 1 - 3 Liverpool (Glenn Murray, 51 min)

Murray pulls one back with a fantastic penalty, placed into the top right of the net. Mignolet guesses right but can't get there.

Goal: Brighton ( 51 min )

 

4:08PM

51 mins

This is the first time Brighton have conceded three in a Premier League fixture. They've got a whole half to avoid that being at least four. The save from Mignolet to deny Murray before that goal was immense.

And it's a penalty! The referee blows his whistle because he's seen some sort of push. Henderson puts his hand on the back of Duffy and gives him a little nudge. That is beyond soft.

4:06PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL

And it's three! 

Attempt Saved: Brighton 0 - 2 Liverpool (Glenn Murray, 48 min)

Brown skips away from his man down the left, sends a superb cross into Murray and Mignolet pulls off a wonder save - it's absolutely brilliant - and Liverpool counter-attack quickly. Salah feeds in Firmino, who finishes a rapid attack with a clinical finish.

Brighton 0 - 3 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino, 48 min)

 

4:04PM

48 mins

Liverpool start the second half as they ended the first, dominating the pitch and passing the ball around confidently, pressing Brighton high.

4:02PM

KICK-OFF 2

We're back!

3:57PM

Average positions

Average touch positions (half time)

 

3:47PM

HALF TIME

You'd think it's game over at 2-0 but what we have to remember is that this is Liverpool and they just love providing entertainment to the neutral. Will they see out the game? Score more? Will Brighton come out on the attack and risk the counter-attack? We'll find out in the second half! Good game so far.

3:45PM

45 mins

It's very nearly three as Coutinho steals the ball from Bruno, who doesn't realise he's there and tries to claim a foul, darts forward and plays in Salah to the box. He is muscled off the ball and the chance goes. Liverpool working passes around the final third.

Brighton vs Liverpool shots on goal

 

3:43PM

42 mins

Coutinho has just dribbled his way around three players all trying to take him out. Absolutely beautiful stuff from the Brazilian, who is then "tripped" about 30 yards out. 

They take the free-kick short and Coutinho tries to toepoke a shot from miles out but can only put it at the goalkeeper.

3:40PM

39 mins

Brighton can't keep the ball in Liverpool's half, Liverpool are taking their time.

3:37PM

36 mins

Liverpool don't have to go all out now, they can pass around and keep things tight at the back. Wijnaldum decides against a risky pass and goes back to the goalkeeper, Liverpool build play from the back and eventually Coutinho gets to the edge of the area and scoops the ball over the defence. Salah is juuuuust offside. 

3:33PM

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!

And it's 2-0 straight away! It's a brilliant quick attack from Liverpool.

Brighton 0 - 2 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino, 31 min)

Salah comes to life, runs into space, pulls the defence all out of shape and sets up Coutinho on the left to put the ball back across goal for Firmino at the back post. A calm finish and Liverpool are up and running. That could open up the match.

Firmino and Coutinho get the goal and assist but that was all about Salah.

3:31PM

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Can scores! Coutinho swings the corner out and Can attacks the ball at the six yard box, rising above two defenders to head past the goalkeeper. 

Brighton 0 - 1 Liverpool (Emre Can, 30 min)

 

3:30PM

30 mins

brighton vs liverpool - Credit: REUTERS
Credit: REUTERS

Brighton do get forward and cause a bit of panic in the Liverpool defence as they look for Murray in the middle. Coutinho pulls off some samba magic near his own box to get Liverpool out of danger and they go on the counter... but take way too long to get forward and Brighton sprint to get back into their defensive shape.  

3:28PM

28 mins

More of the same. Brighton defend, try go break out but can't quite do it, Liverpool running out of ideas in midfield.

3:25PM

25 mins

Mignolet plays the ball short from a goal kick to Can, who looks up, has no options and decides to go back to Mignolet, who punts it wildly up the pitch. What is the point of that? Either commit to the short build-up from the back or go long straight away. It's such a waste of time and effort to play like that.

3:23PM

23 mins

When Liverpool play first time passes, they're opening up Brighton and look dangerous. Too often they're taking their time on the ball, taking two touches and then passing and slowing everything down. If they're going to break down this defence, it's going to be a quick-fire one-two or direct pass between the lines. 

Brighton vs Liverpool

 

3:21PM

20 mins

Liverpool have men over around the Brighton box but can only ping it from wing to wing, before Henderson tries a Gerrard pass, curling the ball into the six yard area from a central position outside the 18 yard box, which goes straight to the goalie.

3:18PM

17 mins

Brighton finally manage to get forward, the full-backs bomb down the wing... and Liverpool clear. Brown takes on Alexander-Arnold, beats him and gets the cross away. Murray hovers around the six yard box... and he gets the ball! He must score! But blasts wide of the goal. Oooohhh what a chance that was and Pascal Gross was screaming for the ball behind him in space. A rushed effort.

Miss: Brighton 0 - 0 Liverpool (Glenn Murray, 17 min)

 

3:15PM

14 mins

Klopp and Hughton - Credit: REUTERS
Credit: REUTERS

Brighton have everyone behind the ball, defending in their own defensive third while Liverpool are allowed all the time they want on the ball. There's nowhere to pass it - Brighton have filled all the attacking space - and sideways passing is too slow.  

3:11PM

11 mins

Henderson is yelling instructions at Coutinho to move instead of standing still with a defender at his back. The midfielder has to pass short sideways three times in a row due to a lack of options further ahead.

Can and Wijnaldum are both centre-backs but are taking it in turns to bring the ball out from the back and move into midfield when Liverpool have possession, and at the moment, they have all of it.

Possession: Brighton vs Liverpool

 

3:08PM

8 mins

Firmino attacks the ball at the near post as Alexander-Arnold curls in an early cross but he's blocked out and can only put it wide. Another huge opportunity for Liverpool, who are actually playing a back three. Wijnaldum is a centre-back today. 

Average touch positions (8 min)

 Milner and Henderson are both sitting in front of that defence, allowing the other players to push higher up.

3:06PM

6 mins

Coutinho takes Liverpool forward, his pass bounces off a defender and looks to be rolling towards the goalkeeper but Salah is alert and darts on to it! The goalie comes off his line, Salah shoots from a narrow angle and wins a corner.

And FIRMINO IS THERE! Headed just over from six yards! He should have buried that one. Big moment early on.

3:03PM

3 mins

Liverpool start on the attack and are pressing high up the pitch. Henderson fouls Knockaert, who takes his time to slow things down. The referee gives the Liverpool man a talking to.

Brighton try to pass around the middle of the pitch, Brown does well to link play and avoid tackles... but Liverpool's pressure pays off and they force Hughton's side backwards.

3:01PM

KICK-OFF

And we're off! Liverpool get us started.

2:59PM

Here come the players

They're out on the pitch getting ready to kick the ball around. It looks like Liverpool will be in a 4-3-3 instead of their recent 4-2-4.

2:53PM

Dunk and Duffy

Brighton will be looking to their central defensive pair to keep things tight at the back. Both Dunk and Duffy have been superb so far this season.

2:45PM

The return of Andy Robertson

 

2:36PM

Premier League bingo for today

5 points: Jurgen Klopp's side stay ahead of Burnley with a 2-1 away win. 

15 points: Liverpool only allow he hosts two shots on goal, but pundits still focus on their 'suspect' defence who 'have a mistake in them'. 

25 points: Glenn Murray misses a late chance to equalise, and finally realises he is missing more than fancy French name to cut it at the top level. 

Find out the rest here. Play along!

2:21PM

Why Liverpool need a holding midfielder

I wrote this in October (but it's still relevant, I promise!) about why Liverpool's defensive problems - if ignoring an ability to deal with set pieces - are the fault of a missing player, rather than bad centre-backs. See what you think.

Liverpool's problems are further forward than centre-back, they need a holding midfielder

Individual mistakes often decide games and many managers have safety nets to protect against this. Jose Mourinho usually opts for a pragmatic, safer option in big games, for example.

Meanwhile, Klopp's intense brand of football doesn't allow for any sort of parachute whatsoever. It has become increasingly clear that what Liverpool really need is an anchor.

Spurs' opening goal was not Lovren's fault alone. As Trippier gets the ball, Lovren can only see what's in front and beside him and has to gauge the defensive line by following Alberto Moreno, who is selected every week by Klopp because of his offensive qualities, ignoring the daft defensive decisions he regularly makes.

Liverpool vs Spurs
Lovren steps up to try and play offside, using Moreno as a guide, but Matip and Gomez are on a different page. Kane is played onside.

Joel Matip doesn't step up to follow Lovren and play Kane offside, and Joe Gomez stays level with Matip. Lovren has to assume that Matip has followed him because that's how an offside trap works and when the ball goes over his head, Lovren spins round and can't believe Kane is onside.

Liverpool vs Spurs
Liverpool's midfield do not react to danger

Matip runs to cover Kane. The Liverpool midfield has left an enormous gap for Spurs to exploit. It's far too easy for Pochettino's team to play between the lines and someone should be in the middle of that massive blue area. Nobody does.

Liv vs spurs
Liverpool's midfield takes the opposite shape to what it should

Even though Kane is clearly about to score in this particular scenario, Liverpool's shape exposes a big problems they always have.

With a deeper lying central midfield player, Christian Eriksen wouldn't be alone inside the area, the space Kane moves into while evading tackles would have been occupied, forcing him away from goal, and the passing lane to Serge Aurier on the left would have been closed. Instead, the midfield trio watch the car crash.

As soon as Trippier received the ball at the start of this move, the team should have anticipated the pass over the top and stepped up to catch him offside. Klopp pinned this one on Lovren alone - whose fault is it really?

Below is where Jordan Henderson should probably be for Spurs' second goal.

Spurs' second goal
Spurs' second goal

James Milner is left with little choice but to drift a fairly useless cross into the box to compete with a much more aggressive, taller, stronger Spurs defence. It's like rolling a dice and always hoping for a five or a six - if it goes wrong, how can Liverpool protect against the counter? 

2:08PM

Inside the changing room

liverpool dressing room - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Liverpool players arriving at the Amex Stadium
Liverpool players arriving at the Amex Stadium

 

2:03PM

Starting lineups

Brighton

Ryan, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Stephens, Propper, Knockaert, Brown, Gross, Murray

Liverpool

1:48PM

Hello!

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our liveblog for Liverpool's trip south to Brighton. 

The last time these two teams met was the 19th of February in 2012, when Liverpool thrashed their visitors 6-1 in the FA Cup. Today is the Premier League and Jurgen Klopp's side are pushing to break into that Champions League places, something they could do if they win and Arsenal fail to beat Man Utd later this evening.

Brighton are performing well in 10th place, with Chris Hughton's well organised team tending to look for the draw against bigger clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal etc and tending to come away with a narrow defeat.

Most managers have figured out that a low defensive block stops Liverpool from playing their game and that could well be the strategy employed by Brighton this afternoon, with Pascal Gross creating the chances for free-scoring Glenn Murray. 

Liverpool have adapted to the walls of defence they regularly face and now use a 4-2-4 in an attempt to beat opposition into submission. It will be interesting to see how Klopp shapes his team today, but you can be sure that they'll stick with the intense high-pressing game that has made them unbeaten in nine of their last 10 games.