JAKARTA - Liverpool swallowed two successive defeats at Anfield Stadium when they were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion with a score of 0-1 in Week 22 of the Premier League on Wednesday local time (Thursday WIB).
The bouncing ball which hit Steven Alzate before nesting into the Liverpool goal, became the only goal that locked Brighton's victory in the match, according to the official Premier League page records.
The defeat kept Liverpool in fourth place with a collection of 40 points after being overtaken by Leicester City (42) who won the match earlier.
Meanwhile, Brighton (24), who went through four games for the first time on a clean sheet, have now moved up to 15th, 10 points away from the relegation zone.
Liverpool, which are still without Sadio Mane, have lost so much to the Senegalese national team star, because their front lines did not record a single shot on target during the first half.
Meanwhile at the back, coating defender Nathaniel Phillips appeared solid enough to guard the Liverpool defense which was threatened several times by counter-attacking waves from Brighton players.
Liverpool's forward line improved slightly early in the second half, but Lewis Dunk performed brilliantly with two crucial obstacles to cut through Andy Robertson's cross and Roberto Firmino's striking ball that followed.
Ironically, Phillips who was solid in the first half had to be the culprit for Brughton's goal in the 56th minute, when he failed to block Daniel Burn's header and the ball bounced off Leandro Trossard and Alzate before nesting into the Liverpool goal.
Since winning, Brighton chose a pragmatic step by tightening their defense line which was not bothered much because Liverpool's attacks were so sluggish.
Every now and then Brighton creates opportunities to double the lead on the counter-attack and in a corner in the 74th minute, Pascal Gross forces goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to make a save to keep Liverpool from conceding again.
Liverpool have nothing to do with the remaining time and Brighton will win for the first time in 39 years at Anfield.
This defeat is clearly not a positive asset for Liverpool who will next host league leaders Manchester City on Sunday (7/2), while Brighton travel to Burnley the day before.
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