In a 2-0 victory over Brighton, Mohamed Salah scored his 20th Premier League goal of the season and Liverpool’s 2,000th overall.
The Reds faced a tough challenge as they visited an energetic but out-of-form Brighton, who threw themselves about early on after their bittersweet 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in midweek.
The first meaningful chance fell to Neal Maupay, whose low, long-range attempt sailed just wide of the post, before Lewis Dunk stretched to deny Sadio Mane at the other end with a tap-in.
Luis Diaz raced onto Joel Matip’s brilliant pass and headed home to put Liverpool ahead after just 20 minutes, although Robert Sanchez should have been sent off for his tackle on the Colombian in the buildup.
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⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽20 @PremierLeague goals for the 4th time in his 5 seasons with the Reds.
🇪🇬 @MoSalah 👑 pic.twitter.com/4m9n7Ta2jy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 12, 2022
With the combined play of Diaz, Mane, and Salah, as well as the overlapping Jordan Henderson, causing problems, the Reds grabbed greater control with the lead.
Salah was fed by Andy Robertson and beat Yves Bissouma into the box, but he irritated his manager by going for goal instead of laying it across for Diaz.
At halftime, Graham Potter took a chance and brought on Adam Lallana, but the ex-Liverpool midfielder was pulled off due to injury after only seven minutes.
Salah’s quick feet and persistence saw a deflected attempt go over the crossbar, and then the No. 11 scuffed an easier chance wide following wonderful work from Diaz on the left flank.
https://twitter.com/lfc/status/1502653878810128384?s=21
On the hour, Salah made no mistake when he was tasked with scoring Liverpool’s 2,000th Premier League goal after Yves Bissouma blocked Naby Keita’s goalbound attempt.
Salah and Keita, who were both suffering from minor injuries, were replaced by Diogo Jota and Thiago, as the Reds attempted to extend their attacking options and increase their lead.
Instead, they mostly settled in, controlling the game against an increasingly aggressive opponent, winning 2-0 and a crucial three points to narrow the gap on Man City.
