Key Moments: Liverpool V Albion

Despite an encouraging display from Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday evening, the Seagulls were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool as Mohamed Salah fired the winning goal for the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League finalists. Here are some key moments from the narrow defeat.

Ryan’s reactions

Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan came to his team’s rescue with a superb point-blank save from Roberto Firmino in the 14th minute of the game. The hosts had created little going forward before Andrew Robertson’s accurate cross into Albion’s penalty area - but with Liverpool’s Brazilian striker charging in at the front post, Ryan showed outstanding reactions to claw Firmino’s downward header away from the target.

Defensive duo

Leon Balogun came into the team for his first Premier League start for the Seagulls, and the Nigerian centre-half gave a composed performance alongside Shane Duffy. With Lewis Dunk missing through injury, Albion’s most-frequent centre-half partnership was broken and Balogun excellently came in to ensure Chris Hughton’s side remained solid at the back. The 30-year-old has showed his experience in both outings for the Seagulls against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Clinical Salah

After Yves Bissouma was dispossessed in midfield, Liverpool quickly broke forward and slipped the ball in for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian showed his class in front of goal as he bent the ball past Ryan from just inside the penalty area - showing exactly why he won the Premier League’s Golden Boot last season. Albion dealt with the 26-year-old’s threat for most of the game, but his clinical first-half finish proved the difference at Anfield.

Knockaert volleys wide

Albion came out positively for the second half and Anthony Knockaert received the ball inside the penalty area following some fine work from Glenn Murray, but the Frenchman’s half-volley flew inches wide of Alisson’s right-hand upright. It would have been the perfect opening to the second half for the Seagulls, as Hughton’s team looked for a way back into the match. Knockaert looked a threat for Albion down the right wing, but the 26-year-old was left ruing his missed opportunity.

Pascal’s moment

With just a couple of minutes remaining on the clock, substitute Pascal Gross arrived just in time to meet Martin Montoya’s inch-perfect cross from the right wing - but the German’s close-range header was palmed away by Liverpool shot-stopper Alisson. Gross looked destined to score as he rose inside the penalty area, and had the German’s effort hit the back of the net, it arguably would have been a much-deserved away point for Hughton’s hard-working side.