Veteran striker Danny Welbeck scored twice to inspire Brighton & Hove Albion to a deserved 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, March 21, 2026, severely denting the Reds’ push for a Champions League spot next season.
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The 35-year-old former Manchester United and Arsenal forward netted his 11th and 12th Premier League goals of the campaign both headers to make him the top-scoring Englishman in the league this term and hand Arne Slot’s side a damaging defeat.
Brighton, now unbeaten in four league matches, kept their own faint European hopes alive with a fourth win in five outings.
14′ Welbeck opened the scoring, nodding home from close range after Diego Gomez headed a cross-field pass back across goal, 30′ Liverpool equalised through left-back Milos Kerkez, who capitalised on a mistake from Brighton captain Lewis Dunk to flick the ball over stranded goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, 56′ Welbeck restored Brighton’s lead, finishing confidently from Yankuba Minteh’s pinpoint cross after a VAR check confirmed the goal.
Liverpool were forced into an early change when top scorer Hugo Ekitike limped off with a dead leg following a challenge from veteran James Milner. They were also missing goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Mohamed Salah.
Slot introduced substitutes Rio Ngumoha, Andy Robertson, and Federico Chiesa in search of an equaliser, but Brighton remained the more threatening side and held on for a famous win.
Arne Slot admitted the result was a setback in the race for the top five (almost certain to qualify for next season’s Champions League): “We created chances but didn’t take them. Credit to Brighton they were clinical. We have to respond quickly.”
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal remain nine points clear at the top, while Liverpool slip to fifth two points behind Aston Villa and one ahead of Chelsea.
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence collapsed earlier in the season, but they remain alive in the Champions League and face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals early next month.
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Alisson posted on social media after the game: “I’ll be out of action for a while. Thank you for the messages.”
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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