Four days after a dominant victory against Galatasaray in the Champions League, Liverpool returned to their inconsistent form. This marks the 4th time this season Arne Slot's squad has followed a Champions League victory with a subsequent loss. They had previously beaten Frankfurt in October, then lost to Brentford; defeated Real but then suffered a heavy defeat to Man City; and overcame Marseille only to stumble against Bournemouth.

Liverpool players (red) dejected after Welbeck completed a brace for Brighton, at Amex Stadium, Brighton, England on 21/3. Photo: Reuters

The pursuit of a top 5 finish—a position likely securing Champions League qualification—faced further setbacks as Hugo Ekitike sustained an early injury. With Mohamed Salah sidelined by a new injury, Alisson unavailable, and Alexander Isak's return date uncertain, Arne Slot's challenges are mounting.

The growing injury list and limited preparation time present significant challenges. Liverpool had only 62 hours of rest and appeared fatigued, lacking energy. In contrast, Brighton had a week of rest, which was clearly reflected in their performance on the field. According to TNT Sports, Brighton ran 5 km more than Liverpool in the match on 21/3.

Before the match, Slot anticipated an aggressive opponent, acknowledging it was not an ideal fixture for his team after just beating Galatasaray midweek. The situation worsened for Liverpool when Danny Welbeck appeared at the far post to head in the opening goal in the 14th minute. However, Liverpool equalized in the 30th minute after a clever run by Milos Kerkez. The visiting left-back seized on Lewis Dunk's careless headed back-pass to chip the ball over Bart Verbruggen.

Nevertheless, Welbeck once again became Liverpool's nemesis. In the 56th minute, he capitalized on Jack Hinshelwood's setup to find the net past Giorgi Mamardashvili. After VAR review, the goal was awarded.

At 35 years old, this is Welbeck's most prolific scoring season of his career, with 12 goals so far. He is the highest-scoring English player in the Premier League this season, demonstrating his readiness for a spot in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Welbeck (number 18) opened the scoring against Liverpool, at Amex Stadium, Brighton, England on 21/3. Photo: Reuters

For Liverpool, this was their 10th defeat in the English Premier League this season. The last time they lost so many matches in the league was 10 years ago. Liverpool have now conceded more goals (42) than in the entire previous season.

Slot's team still ranks 5th with 49 points, one point ahead of Chelsea but having played one more match. They are two points behind 4th-placed Aston Villa and six points behind Man Utd. Liverpool will have nearly two weeks off before facing Man City in the FA Cup quarterfinals on 4/4.

Vy Anh