Brighton 2-1 Liverpool: Danny Welbeck double dents Arne Slot's top-four hopes at the Amex

Welbeck Braces as Brighton Stun Liverpool

Danny Welbeck delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, scoring twice to lead Brighton & Hove Albion to a deserved 2-1 victory over Liverpool. The veteran striker opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to head home at the far post. Despite Liverpool finding a route back into the game through Milos Kerkez, Welbeck struck again in the 56th minute with a composed tap-in to secure a fourth win in five matches for Fabian Hurzeler's side.

Injury Woes Mount for Depleted Reds

Arne Slot's side arrived at the Amex Stadium significantly weakened, with star forward Mohamed Salah and goalkeeper Alisson both sidelined. Their afternoon went from bad to worse just eight minutes into the contest when striker Hugo Ekitike was forced off with an injury following a collision. The lack of a focal point was evident as the reigning Premier League champions struggled to create clear-cut chances, recording an expected goals (xG) total of just 1.03 compared to Brighton's 2.3.

Top-Four Race Intensifies After 10th Defeat

This result marks Liverpool's 10th league defeat of the season, a statistic that hasn't been seen at Anfield for a decade. The loss leaves the Reds in fifth place, trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by two points and facing the risk of being overtaken by Chelsea. For Brighton, the three points propel them to eighth in the table, reigniting their own pursuit of European football. Manager Arne Slot expressed his disappointment post-match, acknowledging that the performance was "not good enough" as the pressure mounts on the Merseyside club.