Jack Hinshelwood's late heroics sink champions Liverpool at Brighton

The result marked Brighton's first win over Liverpool in five encounters and highlighted the fine margins that define the English top flight, as Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot reflected post-match.

Slot made bold changes for the clash, resting captain Virgil van Dijk for the first time this season and giving Federico Chiesa his first Premier League start.

Despite Liverpool taking the lead twice through Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai, Brighton fought back with goals from Yasin Ayari and Kaoru Mitoma before Hinshelwood's decisive finish, confirmed onside after a VAR review.

Slot emphasized the narrow margins that cost his side, saying, "I saw what I already knew, how close the margins are in this league. Missing just two or three percent in the final defensive third leads to losing games.

"We won the league because we were consistent, but we're not at the level where we can dominate like Manchester City did in recent years. To lead by 12 points despite injuries is a huge compliment to our players."

The match exploded into life early, with Cody Gakpo nearly curling in a stunner inside the first minute. Liverpool struck first in the ninth minute when Conor Bradley's cut-back found Elliott for a composed finish.

Brighton responded, with Simon Adingra's deflected effort narrowly missing and Pervis Estupinan firing over. Ayari leveled the score on 32 minutes, slotting home Brajan Gruda's precise pass, only for Szoboszlai to restore Liverpool's lead just before halftime with a fierce strike past Bart Verbruggen.

The second half saw chances at both ends. Alisson Becker denied Danny Welbeck's free-kick and header, while Verbruggen's stunning save kept out Mohamed Salah.

Mitoma, introduced as a substitute, equalized in the 70th minute, pouncing on a rebound. Hinshelwood, another substitute, then turned the game with his 83rd-minute winner, converting Matt O'Riley's cross to spark wild celebrations.

Brighton's head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised his squad's resilience, saying, "The substitutes made a massive impact. This win shows our character and ambition." The victory lifted Brighton to eighth, three points clear of Brentford, with a potential European spot in sight as the season nears its close.

Liverpool, despite the defeat, have scored in every away game this campaign, a club first in the top flight. However, back-to-back away losses, a rarity since April 2023, underline the challenges of maintaining dominance post-title.

Slot's side remain a force, but Brighton's late heroics served as a reminder of the Premier League's relentless intensity.

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