BRIGHTON 3-2 LIVERPOOL: Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood come off the bench as the Seagulls twice come from behind against a much-changed and sloppy Reds side
Jack Hinshelwood scores against Liverpool to make it 3-2 to Brighton
Jack Hinshelwood scored with his first touch to make it 3-2(Image: PA)
Brighton twice came from behind to turn it around and down a Liverpool side who appeared to still be on the beach in an entertaining Premier League encounter with a strong end of term feeling to it.
Arne Slot made four changes from the 2-2 draw against Arsenal and the experimental team started well, with Conor Bradley picking out Harvey Elliott to make it 1-0 after nine minutes. But a punchy Brighton move got them level through Yasin Ayari's scuffed finish into the bottom corner as the Ibiza and Dubai holiday hangovers showed signs of rearing their ugly heads.
Just as things were drifting towards half-time, Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool ahead again as his attempted cross flew past a bamboozled Bart Verbruggen. Mohamed Salah somehow put Cody Gakpo's low cross wide with the goal gaping before Alisson kept out Danny Welbeck's effort as he slipped while shooting.
Salah's miss was to prove costly as Kaoru Mitoma climbed off the bench to put in a rebound and make it 2-2 before another sub, Matt O'Riley, crossed for Jack Hinshelwood to score with his first touch after coming on. Here are the talking points from Mirror Football.
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Elliott states his case
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool celebrates scoring
Despite winning the Premier League, Elliott has endured a frustrating season. The 22-year-old was handed just his second Premier League start of the campaign at Brighton and knew he had a point to prove, amid speculation he could be sold this summer.
"This is my team, I am committed to them and it's just a situation that is always going to have a lot of talk, I just need to think about what is best for my future, my career and as much as I want it to be here," he told the Liverpool Echo recently. "You never know what is going to happen around the corner."
Whether he is playing to convince Slot of his case to start next season, or to attract a new club, Elliott went about it the right way, timing his run perfectly to tap in Bradley's low cross early on before providing the pass for Szoboszlai's freak goal. It has been six years since the attacking midfielder arrived on Merseyside with a reputation as the best youngster in the country and this summer looks like it will be a formative one, regardless of which direction it goes.
Life after Trent
Simon Adingra of Brighton & Hove Albion passes the ball under pressure from Conor Bradley of Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold was left on the bench once again at the AMEX, with Bradley starting at right-back. With Jeremie Frimpong poised to arrive on a five-year contract, these could be key games for the Northern Irishman, who needs to stake his claim as a first-choice in the position before competition arrives.
Nobody plays the position like Alexander-Arnold, but Bradley's mixture of tough tackling - remember that Kylian Mbappe cruncher? - and attacking endeavour makes him a good replacement. He showed his skill and composure for the opening goal, beating two Brighton defenders to get to the byline and pick out Elliott. "I probably want to add more assists and goals to my game," he told the club website after signing a new contract last week.
But speaking on Sky Sports at half-time, Gary Neville pointed out a potential weakness, having spotted his lack of anticipation of Ayari's run for his equaliser. There is still work to do for the youngster.
Baleba the next cab off the rank?
Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton are no strangers to selling their best players for big money and Carlos Baleba looks like he could follow Alexis Mac Allister, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Co in leaving the club this summer.
The 21-year-old Cameroon international joined from Lille in August 2023 and has blossomed this season into one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League. This wasn't one of his standout matches - it didn't contain any Goal of the Season contenders after all - but he has already done plenty to attract attention. If they have ambitions to kick on and reach Europe next season under Fabian Hurzeler then they may need to change their approach and keep Baleba.
Chiesa not the answer
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool runs with the ball
Federico Chiesa had to wait until the penultimate game of the season to be handed his first Premier League start, and despite plenty of excitement from Liverpool fans, it did not go well. The Italian was the only summer signing at the start of the campaign but has been a peripheral figure. On this evidence, it was obvious why.
He started at No.9, with Salah and Gakpo on either side, but struggled to make an impact before being subbed in the 63rd minute. His small frame meant he failed to hold the ball up, while there was a disappointing attempt when things finally opened up for him early in the second half. Liverpool will be signing a striker in the summer transfer window, with Darwin Nunez potentially leaving - and that appears the correct decision.
Hurzeler's subs do the trick
Jack Hinshelwood celebrates scoring their side's third goal against Liverpool
Ahead of the match, Slot spoke about the difficulty in trying to motivate his troops after the title was already secured - and his fears proved well founded after his own trip to party with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza.
Liverpool were equal parts relaxed and flowing in attack and sloppy and careless at the back as Brighton finished strongly thanks to their bench. Hurzeler played a blinder as Mitoma levelled things before two other replacements, O'Riley and Hinshelwood, combined to make it 3-2, with VAR confirming the goal was onside. With a Conference League place a possibility if they finish eighth, they still had something to play for and it showed.
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