Mo Salah incredibly missed a sitter as the Egyptian sliced wide his effort in front of an open goal from just six yards out in a shocking miss that cost Liverpool defeat at Brighton
21:21, 19 May 2025Updated 22:15, 19 May 2025
Mo Salah open goal miss
Mo Salah missed a sitter as Liverpool lost at Brighton(Image: Getty Images)
Mo Salah missed an open goal sitter against Brighton that cost Liverpool defeat on the south coast, and possibly a slice of personal Premier League history.
With Liverpool leading Brighton 2-1 after Dominik Szoboszlai's fluke goal, that was a mishit cross, put the visitors back ahead at half-time after Yasin Ayari cancelled out Harvey Elliott's opening goal, Salah could have killed the game.
The Reds came breaking away at pace over the halfway line with Cody Gakpo tearing up the ground down the left. The Dutchman got in line with the edge of the penalty box and picked his head up to see Salah all alone in the middle.
Gakpo's inch-perfect pass put it on a plate for Salah six yards out with an open goal. However, the Egyptian completely shanked his effort and incredibly put the ball wide when it seemed easier to score.
Salah fell stunned into the net, looking over at the linesman, hoping the flag would spare his blushes, but the flag was never raised.
Mo Salah open goal miss vs Brighton
Mo Salah missed an open goal against Brighton(Image: Sky Sports)
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Fans took to social media to share their disbelief at Salah's miss, with one account saying: "That is the worst miss I’ve ever seen from Salah." A second added: "That Salah one against Brighton might just be the worst I've ever witnessed."
Another wrote: "how am I gonna tell my kids Mo Salah missed this sitter?" A fourth added: "That is an absolute sitter missed by Salah." While a fifth said: "Oh no, Salah! That miss was a shocker—can’t believe he didn’t score from there!"
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The Egyptians' miss gave Brighton hope of a comeback, and that’s exactly what they made. Kaoru Mitoma equalised with a well-taken effort as he had to get his knee over the ball and drill the finish down on the half volley.
The stage was set for an end-to-end final 20 minutes, where either team could have won the game. But it was super sub Jack Hinshelwood, with the help of VAR, who defeated Liverpool.
Only minutes after coming off the bench, the local lad tapped home Matt O’Riley’s cross. The linesman initially ruled O’Riley as offside in the build-up but a VAR check showed that he was comfortably onside, with Jarrell Quansah hanging back playing the Brighton man onside.
Jack Hinshelwood
Super sub Jack Hinshelwood won Brighton the game(Image: PA)
It’s an embarrassing result for the champions, losing after being ahead twice and in control, but it’s not something that Arne Slot and his Ibiza crew will get too down about.
Meanwhile, it’s a huge three points for Brighton, who move into 8th – a position that will secure Europa Conference League football if Chelsea win the Conference League and finish 7th or if Chelsea also beat Real Betis in their European final and Newcastle finish 7th.
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It's no secret the 32-year-old is chasing a slice of Premier League history, with him currently on 46 goals and assists for the campaign. The joint record currently stands with Andy Cole and Alan Shearer both on 47 in the 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons, respectively.
Salah seemed certain to be heading for that record, with him on 44 goal involvements on March 8. But a huge drop off has seen him score and assist just once in seven games - including five matches where Liverpool weren't champions - and leaving it late for himself to better the record.