Hinshelwood caps Brighton comeback against Liverpool to boost Europe hopes

Arne Slot spent the week partying in Ibiza after guiding Liverpool to their 20th league title with four games to spare. But against a Brighton team still desperate to qualify for Europe next season, the Dutchman and his side were brought back down to earth as Jack Hinshelwood’s late winner with his first touch off the bench sealed a memorable comeback for Fabian Hürzeler’s side.

It was no more than the hosts deserved after twice falling behind to goals from Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai, with Yasin Ayari and then another substitute – Kaoru Mitoma – equalising acrobatically to spark a frantic finale. Slot had no complaints as Mohamed Salah endured a night to forget in front of goal and Trent Alexander-Arnold looked relieved that he didn’t even get on the pitch after being booed by his own fans last week. Brighton can now travel to Tottenham on the final day knowing that their fate is in their own hands having edged ahead of Brentford in the race for eighth spot.

Qualifying for the Conference League still relies on results elsewhere but this was a stirring response as Liverpool were beaten having led a match at half-time for the first time since December 2016, a run of 156 games. “I was pleased with the togetherness we showed,” a delighted Hürzeler said.

Slot’s players would probably rather have still been on the beach in Dubai after their exertions this season. Federico Chiesa looked rusty as he was finally handed his first league start of the season after joining last summer, although Liverpool could have been out of sight had Salah taken a golden opportunity at the start of the second half.

“We saw how close the margins can be if we are missing two or three per cent,” Slot, whose side have now scored in every away game for the first time ever in a league campaign, said. “We’ve been very close with every team we have played and that’s why it is such a big compliment that we have won the league so early.”

View image in fullscreen Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after his cross-cum-shot flew over Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to restore Liverpool’s lead. Photograph: Ian Walton/AP

The Liverpool supporters did not seem too concerned about the result as they greeted the final whistle with jubilant scenes despite suffering a fourth league defeat of the campaign. They barely noticed Alexander-Arnold making a brief appearance on the pitch at the end before going down the tunnel ahead of his impending departure to Real Madrid.

It had taken only nine minutes for his replacement’s name to be sung by the away end after a blistering start by the visitors. Conor Bradley was given acres of space after being picked out by Salah and driving into the area, with Elliott on hand to tap home.

Having spent the weekend watching bitter rivals Crystal Palace win their first piece of major silverware, the Brighton supporters hadn’t been thrilled to see their players giving Liverpool their latest guard of honour. But Hürzeler’s side played their part in a high-tempo first half, even if Bradley should have doubled Liverpool’s lead when he was set up by Chiesa’s quick feet but the Northern Irishman dragged his shot wide.

Kostas Tsimikas was fortunate to escape when Danny Welbeck’s header appeared to strike his hand as it was deflected just off target but there was no sign of any intervention from the video assistant referee.

Brighton didn’t have to wait long for their equaliser as a lovely combination between Brajan Gruda and Ayari allowed the Sweden midfielder to deceive Alisson with a clever finish. Yet a lapse of concentration cost them on the stroke of half-time when no one picked up Szoboszlai from a quick free-kick and his cross-cum-shot flew into the top corner.

Hürzeler looked less than happy as he disappeared down the tunnel and his side came out with renewed purpose after the break. Alisson produced a full-stretch save to tip away Welbeck’s free-kick before holding on to a stinging drive from Gruda as Yankuba Minteh waited to pounce.

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To the delight of the home supporters, somehow Salah contrived to miss from eight yards out when Cody Gakpo teed him up perfectly moments later. “[Salah] has been throughout this season almost inhuman,” Slot said later. “But there were moments where he is human … it’s not the first time that he’s not scoring for one or two games in a row. The good thing for us is this hardly ever happens and, if it happens, you can be sure that he will score in the third game of the fourth game.”

Welbeck had almost as good an opportunity at the other end following a sumptuous backheel from Gruda inside the area but his shot was straight at Alisson. That was the prompt for Slot to ring the changes just as Alexander-Arnold emerged to warm up for the first time before promptly taking his seat again. Darwin Núñez almost had an instant impact when he and Bradley set up Salah again but Bart Verbruggen made a sharp save.

View image in fullscreen Kaoru Mitoma fires in Brighton’s equaliser for 2-2. Photograph: Ian Walton/AP

Instead, it was a Brighton substitute who had the crucial impact as Mitoma lashed home after Alisson parried Welbeck’s drive into his path. The equaliser seemed to breathe new life into Hürzeler’s players.

The hosts thought they had a penalty when Mats Wieffer went down in the box, before the goal by Hinshelwood – whose 17-year-old cousin Harry Howell was also brought on for his debut late on – was confirmed after an agonising wait for VAR to show Matt O’Riley was onside before he crossed the ball.

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