Brighton & Hove Albion claimed a deserved 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Amex, with Danny Welbeck scoring in each half to settle a lively contest. For long stretches, especially after the interval, Brighton looked the more threatening side, while Liverpool never reproduced the level Arne Slot had praised after the midweek hammering of Galatasaray.
There were turning points almost from the start. Hugo Ekitike was forced off after an early collision with James Milner, Brighton then punished uncertain defending to move ahead through Welbeck, and Liverpool briefly recovered when Milos Kerkez seized on Lewis Dunk's mistake to equalise. But Brighton improved again after the break, with Yankuba Minteh's influence growing and Welbeck applying the decisive finish.
An unsettled opening swings Brighton's way
Liverpool were already working around the absences of injured duo Mo Salah and Alisson, and the night became more awkward inside the opening five minutes when Ekitike collided with former Liverpool midfielder Milner and could not continue. It was an early disruption that contributed to a ragged start from the visitors.