Brighton vs Liverpool LIVE: Hugo Ekitike injury latest after Reds stumble to another Premier League defeat – UK Times

Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports, says that losing Hugo Ekitike after just seven minutes was a “big blow” – but it does not sound as if it’s anything more serious than a dead leg.

”I think the players, the fans, we all know that there’s only eight games to go to qualify for Champions League and then every game that you have to miss is something you’re upset about

“I think him having to go off after one or two minutes, not being able to help the team anymore with something that is just a bit of bad luck.

“Because it’s not like he’s out for three months, at least that’s not what I assume, but it’s bad enough not to be able to continue. That’s a big blow for him. It was in the end also a blow for us.”

Steven Gerrard, on TNT Sports, addresses Liverpool’s inconsistency this season and struggles to back up their Champions League form in the Premier League.

“The performance wasn’t good enough, but you can almost feel that this performance and this result was coming, even before the ball was kicked,” Gerrard says.

“Liverpool get a couple of injuries to key players like Salah, Allison, on the back of midweek, the manager speaking about maybe the lack of energy they might have, and then you look at Brighton’s plans to come and try and play a game with that intensity and that speed, that energy.

“Brighton deserved the win overall, and a big opportunity missed for Liverpool.”

Steven Gerrard, on TNT Sports, praises Brighton’s performance and says the Seagulls were fully deserving of their victory.

“I thought they were excellent. In the second half they came out firing with energy and intensity. They had Liverpool under massive pressure and they thoroughly deserved the three points today.

“Pre-game it’s a massive blow to lose Salah, he gets his goal in midweek and he would have had confidence. Then the injury to Ekitike early on is a massive blow. Liverpool lost a lot of pace and they lacked a cutting edge.”

Liverpool, last season’s champions, have now lost 10 Premier League games this campaign.

It’s the most defeats they’ve had in a campaign since 2015/16, and there are still seven games to go.

Danny Welbeck gets hugs and claps on the back from his team-mates. What an afternoon for the striker.

For Brighton, too: they are up to 8th in the Premier League, just two points behind Brentford. A late charge for Europe is on?

Curtis Jones appears to wave an apology to the Liverpool. This was another false dawn for Arne Slot’s side.

An excellent win for Brighton! Their fourth in five in the Premier League, inspired by Danny Welbeck’s double! Fabian Hurzeler’s side will celebrate this into the night.

But where to begin with Liverpool… that was woeful. It started badly with Hugo Ekitike’s injury, and got much, much worse.

They could be leapfrogged by Chelsea into fifth if the Blues get something at Everton later. Awful performance from Slot’s side.

90+4 mins: Suddenly Brighton are short and Ngumoha leads the break! Wieffer takes the yellow card with a cynical foul. Free-kick out on the left for Liverpool to salvage something.

Oh dear, oh dear. Szoboszlai hits a tame effort straight at Verbruggen. That was neither a shot or a cross. Sums up their afternoon!

90+2 mins: Brighton have control of the game and are happy to wind down time in Liverpool’s half.

90 mins: Brighton continue to push for the third. The defending from Liverpool is desperate.

But there will be six more minutes to play.

87 mins: OFF THE LINE! Liverpool scramble away again, and it’s Jones on the line to clear after Ayari had turned goalwards from the corner. This really could have been three, four or five.