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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Brighton vs Liverpool, Premier League

Chris Hughton’s Brighton welcomed Liverpool to the Amex Stadium with just one defeat to their name in the Premier League at home this season.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

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Kick off is at 3.00pm.

Let’s get started with some team news…

So, today’s teams will look like this:

Brighton: Ryan, Saltor, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Brown, Gross, Murray.

Subs: Kayal, Hemed, Goldson, Izquierdo, March, Schelotto, Krul.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Can, Lovren, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Coutinho.

Subs: Karius, Sturridge, Grujic, Klavan, Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke.

Liverpool have arrived at the Anex as kick-off looms.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League - AMEX Stadium

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League - AMEX Stadium PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League - AMEX Stadium

Liverpool undetake their second away trip in the space of four days this afternoon following their impressive 3-0 win against Stoke on Wednesday night, which featured two more goals for the in-form Mohamed Salah who has 12 Premier League goals to his name already this season.

Brighton, meanwhile, had to settle for a point at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday. Chris Hughton’s side have suffered just one defeat at home this season — falling to league leaders Manchester City.

He will be aiming to continue that solid home form again this evening, with Ireland centre back Shane Duffy leading the line from the back. Kick-off is just under half an hour away.

Kick-off: We’re underway…

Decent early spell for both sides. Liverpool are setting up with a back three which features Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Georginio Wijnaldum which may raise a few eyebrows this afternoon.

A first shot on target for Liverpool as Mohamed Salah peels away from his marker to chase a loose ball bobbling out of play. He reaches it just before it goes out for a goal kick and manages to force a corner kick at the front post.

The corner comes to nothing and is headed well over the crossbar. Jurgen Klopp’s side are enjoying a decent spell of possession with that aforementioned back three pushed all the way up to the halfway line pressuring Brighton into mistakes higher up the pitch.

Liverpool really toying with Brighton at the moment, strumming passes left and right with ease throughout midfield, but at the same time with little end product. They seem to be just warming up at the minute with the hosts happy to let them play keep-ball.

Philippe Coutinho attempts to thread a neat through ball in but a blue and white body clamps down on the Brazilian. Brighton are very organised at the minute and are more than happy to sit 11 men behind the ball in the hope of a swift counter.

Both sides quite lackadaisy in these opening 15 minutes.

Chance! Ooof the game kicks into life all of a sudden. The cross in from Brown is missed by every single man clad in red and the ball falls on a plate to Murray four yards out.

The striker just manages to scuff his lines and drives the ball curling backwards over the top of the crossbar.

A good move there from Brighton — Liverpool looked a bit shaken but they survive.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League - AMEX Stadium PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

That was a brilliant piece of play from Brighton there.

It started with a lovely turn from Brown on half-way before he fed the ball down the right wing to Anthony Knockaert who sent Wijnaldum to the ground with some lovely spins and twists.

His cross just outside the box presented a decent final delivery, however Dejan Lovren rose highest to head the danger clear.

GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 LIVERPOOL (CAN 30)

Liverpool finally break the deadlock. It’s a routine corner into the box and Emre Can rises highest to beat Shane Duffy to the ball. It’s a powerful header which gives goalkeeper Ryan no chance whatsoever.

GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-2 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 32)

Goooodness me it’s 2-0. Liverpool have managed a second just 78 seconds after taking the lead. Mohamed Salah is instrumental as he finds a pocket of space to expose behind the Brighton midfield.

Liverpool had three in attack, with Salah sweeping the ball to his left where Philippe Coutinho provided the cross and Roberto Firmino the finish at the back post. It’s just lovely, lovely football from the visitors.

Liverpool really dominating proceedings now as Brighton continue to have the life sucked out of them. They started so promisingly — solidified at the back and creating chances at the other end when presented — however those two goals in quick succession have been a complete and utter sucker punch. Well, two sucker punches actually.

A chance for a third there for Mohamed Salah just before we reach the break, however the pass spun his way was just out of reach — Dale Stephens shepherd the ball away from danger well and his side keep the damage at two.

HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 0-2 LIVERPOOL

SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway…

GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-3 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 48)

Liverpool are tearing Brighton apart but it could have been so differently.

The visitors almost looked like grabbing one back and halving the deficit, however Glenn Murray’s shot from point blank range was brilliantly saved by Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool break at the other end via Mohamed Salah and, after twisting and turning his maker, he sets up Roberto Firmino who slots the ball past Ryan to make it 3-0.

GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL (MURRAY 51)

And all of a sudden Brighton do have one back. It’s two goals in the space of three minutes as the hosts earn a penalty for some pushing and shoving inside the box from Jordan Henderson, with Glenn Murray cooly slotting the spot-kick past Mignolet.

The deficit still stands at two, but Chris Hughton’s side may have found a way back into this game.

The game finally has a chance to breath following a manic opening seven or eight minutes. Liverpool looked to have wrapped it up after Murray squandered the chance to half the deficit, but his penalty has given his side hope.

Even still trailing by two, the atmosphere inside the Amex would have you believe it’s still all to play for with just over half an hour remaining.

Liverpool receive a free-kick in a dangerous position following a rash challenge from 37-year-old Bruno, however Philippe Coutinho slices a horrible effort over the top of the crossbar.

Another chance comes and goes for Klopp’s charges to put this game beyond doubt.

It’s another quick break along the left, with Mohamed Salah the man found free inside the box. He takes one touch to compose himself and releases a low half-volley.

But the effort is directed right at goalkeeper Ryan who collects it with relative ease. Following a brilliant performance where it seemed he simply could not put a foot wrong, that shot definitively proves that Salah is human after all.

Substitution for Brighton: Jose Izquierdo replaces Isaiah Brown.

Substitution for Brighton: Solly March replaces Anthony Knockaert.

Star performers: Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah celebrate Liverpool’s third goal.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League - AMEX Stadium PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Chance! Another chance goes begging for Glenn Murray. Shane Duffy leaps high to knock the ball down for the striker inside the box, but Murray scuffs his volley and it bounces marginally wide of the goal. On another day he would have had a hat-trick.

Substitution for Brighton: Ezequiel Schelotto replaces Bruno.

Substitution for Liverpool: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Mohamed Salah.

Both sides emptying their benches as the game edges slowly towards its conclusion. Brighton showed a bit of fight after Murray pulled one back but Liverpool look to have wrapped up another three points here.

The game has slowed down considerably as the crowd draws eerily quiet.

Chance! Brighton erupt out of no-where to force another much-needed stop from a wall of red bodies. Izquierdo played a neat one-two with Gross before seeing his shot deflected back out.

Had that gone in, it would have made the final five minutes plus stoppage time very, very interesting but Liverpool maintain their two goal cushion.

GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL (COUTINHO 87)

That is so cheeky from Philippe Coutinho. Just like Ronaldinho against Werder Bremen all those years ago he sticks a free-kick under the wall and makes it 4-1. Sublime.

GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-5 LIVERPOOL (DUNK OWN GOAL 89)

This is turning into a rout late on for the visitors. Once again Coutinho is instrumental as he meanders his way through the Brighton defence before chipping an effort on goal which is unfortunately heading into his own net by Lewis Dunk to complete his side’s humiliation. Game, set and match.

There will be four minutes of additional time to come.

FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON 1-5 LIVERPOOL 

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