Good evening ladies and gentlemen, seagulls and reds, and welcome to the final Monday night kick-off of this highly entertaining 2024/25 Premier League season.
We have quite the clash tonight, as Brighton host champions Liverpool in their penultimate game of the season, and the last at the Amex this campaign.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton have it all to fight for, with a possible European spot up for grabs if they can finish 8th – and Nottingham Forest beat Chelsea next weekend. It would be the South Coast outlet’s second ever European campaign if they can qualify, so the home fans will surely be energised.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are quite literally at the beach (get it? Brighton? I’ll stop now). Since confirming their 20th top-flight league title with a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham, they have failed to win either of their last two games. We may see a rotated side from the reds this evening.
If there’s anything to expect tonight, expect goals. Brighton have only kept one clean sheet in all of 2025 in the league – a 3-0 win over Chelsea in February – and Liverpool have conceded 10 goals in their last six league games.
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The champions have indeed rotated heavily. Virgil van Dijk is named as a substitute, ending a 69-match run of consecutive starts in the Premier League, during which the captain had played every minute.
Mohamed Salah is van Dijk’s stand-in as Liverpool captain, the first time the Egyptian has captained his club on his 300th game.
Federico Chiesa is handed is first ever Premier League start, and Cody Gakpo starts after scoring twice at the Amex in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Brighton make two changes from their 2-0 win at Wolves, as Simon Adingra and Brajan Gruda replace Tariq Lamptey and Matt O’Riley in the starting XI.
Lewis Dunk returns to the bench after his injury.
Interestingly, Joao Pedro has been omitted from the squad despite serving his three-match suspension. Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler cited “personal issues” to Sky Sports as the reason.
The players are walking out five minutes before kick-off – grab your cup of tea, we’re almost ready to go!
KICK-OFF: Under a beautiful South Coast sunset, the game gets underway. Who will prevail here this evening?
1′ Early chance already for Liverpool – Cody Gakpo cuts inside and flashes a shot just wide of the far post. A warning sign for the hosts.
3′ Federico Chiesa – playing down the middle – is receiving love from the away fans on his first Premier League start after signing last summer.
5′ Liverpool fans, and Liverpool players, are the most involved in the game right now, moving the ball with an eclectic freedom. Brighton are stuck in their own half.
Embed from Getty Images8′ A hefty penalty shout on Brajan Gruda has awoken the home fans. He appears to be clipped, but is too emphatic on his leap down. At least the Amex faithful are with us now.
9′ GOAL LIVERPOOL – HARVEY ELLIOT.
9′ Who needs Trent Alexander-Arnold when you have Conor Bradley? A sublime assist from the young right-back, who nutmegs Simon Adingra, skips past Adam Webster to reach the byline, and cuts back for a simple finish for Harvey Elliot. Liverpool’s early dominance is rewarded.
10′ The Liverpool fans chant Conor Bradley’s name after the goal, the loudest they’ve been. I’m sure another certain right-back on the bench is pensive of his decision to leave…
11′ Brighton look to hit back immediately, as Simon Adingra’s teasing run and shot is deflected for a corner.
13′ A low-driven cross by Mats Wieffer flashes under Simon Adingra’s foot as he draws back for a shot. The home side are rejuvenated after going down.
16′ It’s calming down a bit now, but Brighton look more comfortable than the first ten minutes. There may well be a lot of goals in this game.
19′ Liverpool’s early goal means they have now scored in every away game in the Premier League this season. This is a club first, and has not been done since Arsenal and Manchester United in the 2001/02 season.
22′ CHANCE – Liverpool attack through an abundance of space. Feredico Chiesa’s pass meets Conor Bradley, but he places his shot wide from inside the box.
25′ Liverpool have a free-kick 25 yards out, but Dominik Szoboszlai’s shot hits the wall.
27′ Yankuba Minteh drags a shot at the near-post wide from inside the box.
29′ CHANCE – A lovely cross by Simon Adingra is met by the head of skipper Danny Welbeck, but his effort is narrowly wide. Brighton the likelier to score at the moment.
32′ GOAL BRIGHTON – YASIN AYARI.
32′ I did say Brighton look likely to score! A fantastic flowing move from the Seagulls! Danny Welbeck bounces a pass back to Brajan Gruda, who plays a first time ball in behind to Yasin Ayari, and the Swede guides his shot past Allison. Game on!
35′ Brighton threatening again! A driving run from Brajan Gruda, who lays it off to Simon Adingra, but the Ivorian’s shot is blocked.
36′ The hosts have all the momentum. They will want another goal before half-time to make their current dominance over the champions count.
38′ There’s something about Brighton playing a “Big Six” team at the Amex. This season, they’ve won four and drew one (Arsenal) against England’s supposed best, with zero losses – will this remain by the final whistle tonight?
41′ Mats Wieffer makes a strong challenge, met by applause from the home fans. What started a poor half has turned around for Brighton – can they cap off the half with a second goal?
44′ Mohamed Salah gets his first chance driving at goal – his shot is blocked for a corner.
45′ A loose ball picked up by Brajan Gruda in the box. After some more wobbling, his shot ends up in Allison’s hands.
45′ Just the one minute of added-time to come.
46′ GOAL LIVERPOOL – DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
46′ A wonder-strike from the Hungarian – or perhaps a misplaced cross! From a free-kick, a quick one-two with Harvey Elliot gives Szoboszlai some space on the right. He whips the ball over Bart Verbruggen and into the far side-netting. A real dagger for Brighton, who were on top for the majority of the tail end of the second half.
HALF TIME – BRIGHTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
A tough one for Brighton. They found a reaction after the first goal, but will have to ante up and do it all again in the second-half. Their play is positive though, and the stadium doesn’t seem defeated.
We know Liverpool were on the beach last week – Ibiza, specifically – and whilst defensively they might be a bit hungover, they remain just as potent on fast-breaks as they have all season. It won’t be easy for them to keep this lead.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
49′ Pervis Estupinan wins a free-kick right outside the Liverpool box, after good feet from the Colombian.
Embed from Getty Images50′ Danny Welbeck strikes the free-kick well, forcing a save from Allison and a corner.
53′ Ryan Gravenberch looked to play in Cody Gakpo, but he shoves Mats Wieffer over and a foul is given.
54′ HUGE CHANCE – Mo Salah, that’s not like you! Cody Gakpo gets in behind and squares the ball to Salah, but the league’s top scorer slides it wide somehow!
57′ Some good link-up play from Brighton here, but their two crosses are cleared. This game, once again, could have goals either way.
58′ Brajan Gruda shifts inside and curls a shot wide. The German might be putting in his strongest performance yet in a Brighton shirt, after signing for £30 million from Mainz in the summer.
59′ CHANCE – some gorgeous build-up play from the Seagulls again. Pervis Estupinan centres the ball for Brajan Gruda, who produces a deft backheel flick for Danny Welbeck. Brighton’s striker can only direct his shot straight at Allison, however.
62′ CHANCE AT THE OTHER END – Cody Gakpo smashes a half-volley just over the bar after a loose ball.
63′ LIVERPOOL SUBS: A triple shuffle of the deck from the away side. Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo make way for Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
64′ Harvey Elliot takes a shot from range following a driving run by newcomer Curtis Jones, but Bart Verbruggen easily catches the ball.
65′ BRIGHTON SUB: Brighton’s turn to switch things up, as Kaoru Mitoma replaces Simon Adingra.
67′ Liverpool get into Brighton’s box through Conor Bradley, but after some tangled blocks the ball is kicked clear by Bart Verbruggen.
69′ GOAL BRIGHTON – KAORU MITOMA
70′ Level game! The Japanese international played in Danny Welbeck, and after forcing a parried save from Allison, Mitoma slams an acrobatic half-volley into the ground to make it 2-2. Once again, game on!
73′ A rapturous penalty shout from the home side is waved off by referee Andy Madley.
73′ BRIGHTON SUB: Brajan Gruda and Yasin Ayari come off for Matt O’Riley and Diego Gomez. Gruda in particular has been fantastic, and was chanted off the pitch by the Amex faithful.
75′ Brighton are really feeling themselves here. A ridiculous touch by Kaoru Mitoma is met by awe from the home crowd, and a crunching tackle by Yankuba Minteh is met by a roar.
77′ LIVERPOOL SUB: Conor Bradley is subbed off for Wataru Endo. Alexander-Arnold may be staying on the bench this time.
79′ Kaoru Mitoma plays a beautiful edge-of-the-boot cross to Matt O’Riley who tries a fanciful flick – but misses the ball. Fortunately for O’Riley, he was offside.
81′ There’s a tense feel to this game all of a sudden, despite its openness. At times you can hear a pin drop – albeit, a very large pin. At other times, the home fans roar, and the away fans too. All to play for.
82′ Kaoru Mitoma smashes a shot goalwards from a tight angle, but his effort is parried by Allison.
83′ BRIGHTON SUBS – Brighton make their final pair of changes. Yankuba Minteh and Danny Welbeck make way for Jack Hinshelwood and Harry Howell – an academy product who makes his Premier League debut. Incidentally, Hinselwood and Howell are cousins – a family clearly loaded with talent.
85′ IS THAT A GOAL? Brighton have the ball in the net through Jack Hinselwood, but flagged for offside for Matt O’Riley who played the ball across.
86′ It’s tight, but from an initial glance it may stand… the Amex waits in suspense.
87′ GOALLLLLL BRIGHTON – JACK HINSHELWOOD!!!!!!!! BRIGHTON MIGHT HAVE DONE IT!
88′ It stands! Substitute Jack Hinselwood is the hero! His tap-in from Matt O’Riley’s cross, sneaking behind Ibrahima Konate, might win Brighton this game in a crucial bid for Europe – provided Nottingham Forest can do them a favour next week!
90′ Brighton counter with pace through Kaoru Mitoma, who finds Harry Howell but the youngster’s squared ball is not met by a Brighton player.
91′ Eight minutes added-time. A long eight minutes for the hosts, but the current optimism in the stadium says they will hold out.
94′ Kaoru Mitoma cuts in for a good chance, but his shot curls high and wide.
Embed from Getty Images95′ Liverpool don’t look like they care to win this right now. Cannot forget their cut-throat attacking ability, but they aren’t even pushing forward.
97′ Brighton are just 90 seconds from a huge three points here, as Liverpool creep forward.
98′ Brighton play some lovely football to keep possession – all for Pervis Estupinan to blaze a shot wide from 30 yards out.
FULL TIME: BRIGHTON 3-2 LIVERPOOL!
That is a massive win for Brighton, and a deserved one too. Except for a slow first ten minutes, they fought hard throughout, and capitalised on a sloppy Liverpool defence. Lovely to see substitute and local boy Jack Hinselwood score the winner too. It’s a huge win for the Seagulls in their final home game this season, who now enter the final gameweek in the driving seat for 8th and a possible European spot.
Liverpool lost, but they won’t mind, The away fans are still jumping and waving their flags in number when approached by the players who applaud their support.
What a game. I hope you had as much fun as me! Thank you for joining me once again, and good night from the South Coast.