Brighton’s Welbeck nets brace to dent Liverpool’s top-five hopes

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Brighton beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday to deal a major blow to the Reds’ push for a Champions League spot next season.

Liverpool came into the match on the sunny south coast in buoyant mood after hammering Galatasaray 4-0 in midweek to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

But a goal in each half from Welbeck gave Brighton a fourth win in five Premier League matches, keeping alive their own hopes of European football next season.

Milos Kerkez scored the only goal for the Reds in the 30th minute, capitalising on an error from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, who paid the price for heading a high ball back to his goalkeeper without looking behind him.

Liverpool were missing both goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Mohamed Salah at the Amex Stadium.

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They also suffered a further injury blow early in the game when topscorer Hugo Ekitike hobbled off with an apparent dead leg after a firm challenge from former Liverpool stalwart James Milner.

Defeat leaves Liverpool fifth in the Premier League, two points behind Aston Villa and one ahead of Chelsea, with the top five almost certain to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The club’s Premier League title defence collapsed earlier in the season but they remain alive in the Champions League and face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals early next month.

The Star