Brighton produced a blistering second-half performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Amex and move above the visitors into seventh place in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi’s impressive side were wasteful in the first half but found their range after half-time as Solly March’s double in the 46th and 53rd minutes and Danny Welbeck’s volley in the 81st minute secured the points on a memorable afternoon for Brighton.
Joel Matip carelessly surrendered possession to Alexis Mac Allister and he found Kaoru Mitoma, whose cross was perfectly weighted for the unmarked March to tap in.
Liverpool were in disarray and six minutes later, March crashed a fine finish into the far corner from just inside the area.
Welbeck, however, wrapped up the victory, flicking March’s pass over Joe Gomez and volleying home.
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Beaten at Brentford in their previous league game, Liverpool are languishing in eighth place, seven points adrift of the top four, and look a shadow of the team that nearly won the quadruple last term.
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton are in even more dire straits after Southampton’s 2-1 win at Goodison Park.
Everton’s board of directors did not attend the game because of a “real and credible threat to their safety”.
Everton chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, was reportedly manhandled by a fan and had her car attacked after last week’s 4-1 home defeat by Brighton.
Everton have won only one of their last 13 matches in all competitions and banners and flags calling for the board to leave were unfurled before kick-off.
Brighton’s next game is away to Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday, while Liverpool’s next outing is an FA Cup third-round replay at Wolves on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side then host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
