Brighton regain top spot against Liverpool, Welbeck takes second place
Video credit: TNT Sports
The team that Arne Slott chose to face Brighton made only two changes from Wednesday’s game against Galatasaray, with Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah missing through injury. To make matters worse, Hugo Ekitike was forced off early on at the Amex Stadium after failing to move his feet.
After the match, Gerrard told TNT Sports that Liverpool’s depth was being tested by progressing into the Champions League.
“I’ve seen them put in a lot of effort this season and perform very well in the Champions League,” said the former Liverpool captain.
“And all the emotion, all the energy, the intensity that you have to put in to win those games or get those results has a big impact on them on the weekend.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/21/image-d3f2df51-1520-4c60-8657-c157739dfb6a-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Gerrard ‘surprised’ and ‘disappointed’ by Alexander-Arnold’s absence from England squad
Video credit: TNT Sports
“They don’t have the options in the team or on the bench to make a lot of changes to bring that energy and quality into the team and perform at the same level as in midweek. And today they had to play a lot of the same players, but they made some changes that were forced on them. The manager had to make changes more than he wanted to keep the energy and it backfired.”
The defeat was a blow to Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, as they missed the chance to move up to fourth in the table with a win.
Slott said the first half was even, but the Dutchman admitted that Brighton were “the better team on the pitch” in the second half.
Slott said he knows the team is struggling after playing in European soccer and hopes this result won’t be too damaging to the team’s goals this season.
“We don’t need 24 points to qualify. I hope I’m right because it’s no longer possible to get 24 points in eight games,” he told TNT Sports. “But we knew this was the final, so we kept trying and came close in the second half, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“There’s always pressure when you’re at Liverpool, which is completely normal for me and for the players. We’ve qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League, and ultimately in the league we need to make sure we qualify for the Champions League.”
“But as much as we hate to lose today, Brighton away games are always difficult games and as long as they keep bringing a lot of good players here it will always be a difficult game.”
