Liverpool 2-1 Brighton: Reds come back, go top
Liverpool will finish the weekend first or second on the table following a 2-1 comeback win over Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds trailed in the second minute on a wonderful Danny Welbeck goal, but rallied behind a 27th-minute Luis Diaz goal and 65th-minute Mohamed Sally tally.
WATCH LIVERPOOL vs BRIGHTON FULL MATCH REPLAY
Liverpool move three points clear of Arsenal and four clear of Manchester City behind those two foes square off at 11:30pm ET Sunday. The Reds have lost just twice this season.
Brighton fail in their bid to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since late September, the end of their 5W-1L start to the season.
The Seagulls are out of the Europa League and both domestic cups, leaving Roberto De Zerbi to focus on the league table as a route back to Europe. They are ninth with 42 points, two off seventh and two off 11th.
World class Mac Allister delivers the goods
A very early and silly yellow card could've spelled doom for Alexis Mac Allister, but the World Cup winner navigated the caution with little issue in a fantastic performance at Anfield.
Mac Allister created five chances and attempted five shots, deservedly getting on the score sheet with his terrific control and assist to Salah on the match-winning goal.
The Argentine had nearly 100 touches and recorded a dozen defensive actions according to fotmob. He has a lot more freedom when Dominik Szoboszlai is healthy, and having Mohamed Salah often in his proximity hurts nothing.
If Liverpool win the Premier League, Mac Allister will be a big reason for it.
What’s next?
Brighton go to Brentford at 2:30pm ET Wednesday, then host Arsenal at 12:30pm Saturday.
Liverpool host Sheffield United at 2:30pm ET Thursday, then go to Manchester United at 10:30am Sunday.
How to watch Liverpool vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live on NBC.com
Liverpool vs Brighton live updates — By Nick Mendola
Liverpool vs Brighton final score: 2-1
Goalscorers: Welbeck (2'), Diaz (27'), Salah (65')
Mohamed Salah goal — Liverpool 2-1 Brighton (65th minute)
Liverpool's three best performers on the day combine to give the Reds their first lead.
Dominik Szoboszlai drives the right side and hammers a pass centrally that Mac Allister takes down with supreme technique.
He finds Salah who has the look he's been seeking all game and beats Verbruggen. 2-1.
Still Liverpool’s game but deadlocked on the scoreboard
Not even 10 minutes into the second half and it must feel like it's been an hour for Brighton.
Mac Allister is in top form and Salah is vibrant, doing everything but finishing chances.
As we say that he tries a pretty vintage Salah "push the ball through two guys and dive to the floor" that often works because:
a) there's contact
b) he's good at it.
No luck this time.
Halftime — Liverpool 1-1 Brighton
What a watch.
This has been brilliant — electric, ferocious,
Luis Diaz levels the score — Liverpool 1-1 Brighton (27th minute)
Really smart from Luis Diaz, who beats the line to a hopeful redirection.
Salah beats Carlos Baleba to an aerial ball, knocking it from the outside of the 18 toward goal.
It turns off a Brighton player and Diaz was always betting on the ball getting through. He's onside and beats Verbruggen for 1-1.
Nearly the spectacular from Mohamed Salah
Mac Allister skips two defenders with a chipped pass and asks Mohamed Salah to try the unthinkable.
Salah can do that, and leaps to snap the outside of his left foot into the ball, just missing an otherwordlly.
Moments later he's got another chance and misses the goal first time.
More goals are coming.
Yellow card — Alexis Mac Allister
Adingra is off and running down the left, and Mac Allister trying to keep up with him.
Mac Allister raises his arm as part of his shoulder barge and that's gonna get him a yellow card after just 14 minutes or so.
This is gonna be fun... and chaos
Liverpool is just firing forward now. Mohamed Salah has just missed and Darwin Nunez nearly spun a shirt tug into a penalty.
Brighton, of course, will fight back when they get the ball and this is probably one of the games you send to your friends who've wondered what this whole Premier League thing is all about.
Pick that one out! Danny Welbeck goal — Liverpool 0-1 Brighton (2nd minute)
Liverpool's right side is pushed forward and Brighton take advantage.
The ball's driven down the left side and Danny Welbeck does a terrific job of sorting a shin-height bounce into a laser into the Liverpool goal.
Game on.
How can Brighton top Liverpool?
They''ve done it before, but Alexis Mac Allister's with the home team now and Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro miss out through injury.
The best bet is hoping for mistakes from Liverpool's fun but young right side of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley. Watch AFCON winner Simon Adingra, who scored in the 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium — albeit playing on he right side and with Mitoma on the left.
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Quansah, Bradley, Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Nunez, Salah
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen, Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan, Veltman, Gross, Moder, Baleba, Adingra, Welbeck
Liverpool focus, team news
OUT: Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee), Diogo Jota (knee - out months), Alisson (thigh injury), Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Curtis Jones (ankle), Andrew Robertson (ankle)
Brighton focus, team news
OUT: Kaoru Mitoma (lower back), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), James Milner (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Joao Pedro (hamstring)
