Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Liverpool: Pascal Gross denies Reds

Pascal Gross' controversial injury-time penalty rescued a deserved draw for Brighton although Liverpool still went top of the Premier League.

The Reds thought they had taken the lead when Mohamed Salah latched onto a Roberto Firmino ball before firing home, but it was disallowed for offside by the video assistant referee.

Diogo Jota broke the deadlock, with his ninth goal since joining the Reds, as he received Salah's pass before going past two defenders and firing into the bottom corner.

Substitute Sadio Mane believed he had sealed the game with a late header for Liverpool but that was also ruled out by the VAR for offside.

And they were made to pay when Andy Robertson kicked Danny Welbeck's boot - with Stuart Attwell awarding the penalty after viewing the screen - and Gross slamming the equaliser down the centre.

Boss Jurgen Klopp was furious with the officials as they walked off the pitch, disagreeing with the decision to award the penalty.

The visitors lost James Milner to injury, while Brighton had to replace both Maupay and Adam Lallana, who had only been on the pitch for eight minutes.

Liverpool boss Klopp had been critical of the TV broadcasters for placing this game on a Saturday lunchtime because they had a Champions League game on Wednesday.

The defending champions go one point above Tottenham, who visit Chelsea on Sunday. Brighton remain 16th, five points ahead of 17th-placed Burnley.

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Late equaliser adds to Liverpool frustrations

Liverpool still go top of the table, but by one point and not three. The result, and not the performance, was the most important thing in this manic schedule - and they were moments away from getting the result they wanted.

Klopp warned last week the fixture scheduling means they may not finish the season with 11 players.

And Milner, who started the game in midfield and moved to right-back, suffered a muscle injury in the second half to add to their defensive injury concerns.

They made six changes from their 2-0 defeat by Atalanta on Wednesday, a game which had involved several fringe players, for this one.

The Reds did not create many chances, with six shots - only two on target - but Jota's goal did look like it was going to be enough until the late drama.

Robertson tried to clear the ball but instead caught Welbeck's foot. There was definitely contact, although it would not have been given in a pre-VAR world.

Brighton get point they deserve

Brighton are often made to pay for missed chances. Only Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester City have had more shots than the Seagulls' 123 this season.

But despite that they sit just two places outside the relegation zone.

Nobody could really argue they fully merited a point against the champions.

The lively Aaron Connolly - who appeared furious at being replaced in the second half - ran onto Maupay's long ball before curling just wide. The Irishman was then fouled by Neco Williams for the penalty which Maupay missed.

Maupay's day got worse when he suffered a hamstring injury. He is the first player to start a Premier League game, miss a penalty and be replaced before half-time since Dennis Bergkamp against Derby in April 1998.

Brighton eventually earned a dramatic point through Gross' penalty to take them onto 10 points.

More to follow.

Player of the match

WelbeckDanny Welbeck

with an average of 7.31

• BrightonBrighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion
• LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool

Brighton & Hove Albion

Avg

1. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck

   Average rating

   7.31
2. Squad number13Player nameGroß

   Average rating

   7.12
3. Squad number20Player nameMarch

   Average rating

   7.10
4. Squad number7Player nameConnolly

   Average rating

   7.10
5. Squad number8Player nameBissouma

   Average rating

   7.02
6. Squad number5Player nameDunk

   Average rating

   6.92
7. Squad number34Player nameVeltman

   Average rating

   6.88
8. Squad number3Player nameWhite

   Average rating

   6.87
9. Squad number4Player nameWebster

   Average rating

   6.84
10. Squad number11Player nameTrossard

    Average rating

    6.59
11. Squad number1Player nameRyan

    Average rating

    6.34
12. Squad number16Player nameJahanbakhsh

    Average rating

    6.30
13. Squad number14Player nameLallana

    Average rating

    5.97
14. Squad number9Player nameMaupay

    Average rating

    5.87

Liverpool

Avg

1. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

   Average rating

   6.06
2. Squad number14Player nameHenderson

   Average rating

   5.06
3. Squad number1Player nameAlisson

   Average rating

   5.00
4. Squad number7Player nameMilner

   Average rating

   4.90
5. Squad number10Player nameMané

   Average rating

   4.89
6. Squad number26Player nameRobertson

   Average rating

   4.85
7. Squad number3Player nameFabinho

   Average rating

   4.84
8. Squad number47Player namePhillips

   Average rating

   4.82
9. Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah

   Average rating

   4.79
10. Squad number5Player nameWijnaldum

    Average rating

    4.71
11. Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino

    Average rating

    4.65
12. Squad number17Player nameJones

    Average rating

    4.42
13. Squad number76Player nameN Williams

    Average rating

    4.06
14. Squad number18Player nameMinamino

    Average rating

    3.93

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