A look at how the national media reflected Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Brighton on Monday evening
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Federico Chiesa during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Liverpool FC at Amex Stadium on May 19, 2025
(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Premier League champions Liverpool stretched their winless run since winning the title to three games in Monday's 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The ECHO, as ever, was at the Amex Stadium to run the rule over proceedings with player ratings, post-match analysis, big-game verdict and an on-the-whistle reaction. We also had the response of Arne Slot in his press conference and you can relive it all in our live blog from the south coast.
Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to give their own considered takes. Here's how they viewed things as the Reds crashed to their fourth defeat of the campaign.
READ MORE: What Liverpool end did gave away reality as Florian Wirtz boost fuels excitementREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Federico Chiesa and four more poor in Brighton loss
Lewis Steele, of the Daily Mail, writes: "Liverpool's players had spent most of last week on the lash in Dubai and then had a 'Summer of 66' themed party put on by departing star Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Arne Slot also spending a few days sunning himself in Ibiza.
"So the Premier League champions could have been forgiven if they showed signs of a hangover on the south coast, especially with Slot shuffling his pack and giving rare starts to Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa — remember him?
"But the early signs were that the Reds had avoided any serious symptoms, as they took the lead after just nine minutes. Conor Bradley was the architect with the sort of weaving run that would have further eased fans' hurt over Alexander-Arnold's exit.
"The Northern Irishman signed a new deal on Saturday to prove the club's faith in him. He has nothing to prove to Slot, but it still felt like Bradley could have done with a positive performance here, given fellow right back Jeremie Frimpong has undergone a Reds medical."
Felix Keith, at The Mirror, writes: "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."
Over on The Independent's pages, Ed Elliott pens: "Jack Hinshelwood struck a late winner as Brighton boosted their slender hopes of scraping Conference League qualification with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool.
"Arne Slot's Reds were on course for success at the Amex Stadium following an eye-catching finish from Dominik Szoboszlai after Seagulls midfielder Yasin Ayari cancelled out Harvey Elliott's early opener.
"But Mohamed Salah – making his 300th Premier League appearance – missed an open goal to stretch the visitors' lead before Kaoru Mitoma equalised and fellow Albion substitute Hinshelwood pounced five minutes from time.
"Liverpool have now taken only a point from three games since clinching the title on 27 April, while Fabian Hurzeler's hosts climbed to eighth – three points above Brentford – ahead of Sunday's season finale at Tottenham."
On The Times' coverage, Alyson Rudd reflects: "Liverpool were still warm and fuzzy having wrapped up the title with more ease than anyone could have predicted yet also keen to maintain their aura and acute sense of competitiveness.
"Attention, though, inevitably turned in the short term to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impending departure and, in the longer term, to how Arne Slot will revitalise his squad knowing his competitors will recruit in the hope of making life more difficult for him in his second season in England.
"The most noteworthy Liverpool selection, though, was that of Federico Chiesa who was given his first league start of the season after a campaign in which he must have felt something of an afterthought after signing in August from Juventus.
"It was treated as a quite momentous occasion by the travelling fans who serenaded him as a cult hero. It would have been rather endearing had it not been for the context of how a highly decorated homegrown hero has been treated."
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**The ECHO'**s match verdict looked ahead to Sunday's Premier League trophy celebrations: "The era of Slot could barely have started in more spectacular fashion. May 20 marks the one-year anniversary since the Dutchman was officially confirmed as picking up the baton, and having wrapped up the Premier League title with a month of the campaign to spare, the last few weeks have been a club content to tread water as they await the biggest party of a generation this weekend. The victory lap has been ongoing for some time.
"Slot has slipped into the role with more ease than an old pair of slippers and the adaptation to the biggest job of his career after arriving from Feyenoord has been remarkable. The head coach's lamenting in the build up to this game of how the Reds were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in March served as something of a major signpost towards his next ambition on Merseyside in the shape of a seventh European Cup too.
"It's full steam ahead for the champions of England. Next up, the small matter of lifting the Premier League trophy after a Community Shield dress rehearsal with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. An I-Was-There afternoon if there ever was one for the 60,000 shuffling into Anfield."