Brighton 3-2 Liverpool: Hinshelwood’s late goal secures win over Champions
Brighton & Hove Albion edged past newly crowned champions Liverpool 3-2, with substitute Jack Hinshelwood scoring a late winner that sealed an unforgettable comeback at the Amex Stadium.
Despite an early lead and dominant spells, Liverpool’s post-title slump continued, marking their third consecutive league game without a win. Arne Slot's men, who lifted their record-equalling 20th Premier League title just weeks ago, have now managed only one point from their last three fixtures, including losses to Chelsea and Brighton and a disappointing draw against Arsenal.
Match Recap: Brighton vs Liverpool – 5-Goal Showdown
Liverpool opened the scoring in the 9th minute as Harvey Elliott converted from close range, assisted by rising star Conor Bradley, who impressed at right-back in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The goal marked a historic moment—Liverpool have now scored in every away Premier League game in a single season for the first time ever.
However, Brighton struck back in the 32nd minute. Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari found space on the edge of the box and drilled a low shot past Alisson, finishing off a well-timed lofted pass from Brajan Gruda to level the score at 1-1.
Just before halftime, Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s lead with a swerving right-footed effort from wide on the right, which deceived goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Whether it was a cross or a shot remains debatable, but it gave the Reds a 2-1 lead at the break.
Brighton's Second-Half fightback sinks the Reds
Brighton came out firing in the second half, with Danny Welbeck and Gruda both testing Alisson early on. The hosts continued to press and were rewarded in the 69th minute when Kaoru Mitoma slammed home the rebound after Welbeck's initial shot was saved—bringing the match level at 2-2.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, captaining the team for the first time in the Premier League on his 300th league appearance, missed a golden opportunity to put the game to bed, misfiring from just five yards out after a cross from Cody Gakpo.
Brighton capitalized on the miss. With five minutes left on the clock, Matt O’Riley whipped in a low cross that substitute Jack Hinshelwood calmly slotted home with his first touch—completing a dramatic turnaround and sending the Amex crowd into a frenzy.
Post-Match Reaction: Liverpool’s focus questioned
Following a celebratory week in Dubai and manager Arne Slot's brief escape to Ibiza, questions are being asked about Liverpool’s mental sharpness since securing the title on April 27. Slot himself acknowledged the challenge of keeping motivation high, stating, “Did you see me on social media?” with a chuckle, hinting at the celebratory mood in the camp.
Liverpool will wrap up their Premier League campaign at home against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace on Sunday, where they will be presented with the trophy before a planned open-top bus parade through the city the following day.
What this means: Brighton stay competitive, Liverpool eye trophy lift
- Brighton remain strong at home and continue to challenge the league’s elite with resilience and depth.
- Liverpool, while champions, now face scrutiny over their lack of form heading into the season finale.
Stay tuned to Sportsligue.com for more Premier League updates, post-match analysis, and exclusive football insights.
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