Arsenal took a big step in the race for the Premier League title by defeating Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium. Starting the match without talisman Bukayo Saka, the Gunners looked rocky in the opening minutes as Declan Rice was forced to clear an effort off the line from Josk Gvardiol.
Yet, as Arsenal grew into the match Man City withered. Pep Guardiola’s men never got into gear and were fortunate to keep all 11 players on the pitch after a couple of shocking tackles from Mateo Kovacic.
Gabriel Martinelli came on at half-time and re-energised Mikel Arteta’s men. He was a ball of fire, speed and fury running down the wing and whipping in crosses with ease.
However, the game seemed to be heading to a shutout only for Martinelli it arrive on the end of a Kai Havertz pull back and smoke the ball past Ederson to secure the points with a late winning goal.
Relive the action from Arsenal vs Man City in the Premier League:
Arsenal vs Manchester City
Fortune favours Arsenal as Mikel Arteta finally outdoes Pep Guardiola
Arsenal score late to defeat Man City in a top of the table Premier League clash
Three points takes the Gunners ahead of City in the table and level with Tottenham
87’ GOAL! – Martinelli scores late on to sink Man City (ARS 1-0 MCI)
51’ SHOT! – Odegaard blazes a shot wide of the target (ARS 0-0 MCI)
27’ CHANCE! – Nketiah gets a first sight of goal but goes wide (ARS 0-0 MCI)
17’ CLOSE! – Alvarez charges down Raya’s clearance and almost deflects the ball into the net (ARS 0-0 MCI)
4’ CHANCE! – Rice clears Gvardiol’s effort off the line (ARS 0-0 MCI)
Arsenal FC 1 – 0 Manchester City FC
Fortune favours Arsenal as Mikel Arteta finally outdoes Pep Guardiola
18:59 , Mike Jones
A crucial deflection, and maybe a diversion in the fortune of many of those involved in this growing fixture. Arsenal claimed their first Premier League victory over Manchester City since December 2015, and first points for Mikel Arteta against his old employers.
It would have been 13 losses in a row otherwise, but it was instead Arsenal that enjoyed the luck as the numbers finally changed.
City themselves have lost two successive league games for the first time since December 2018, after Gabriel Martinelli’s opportunistic effort cannoned off Nathan Ake and past Ederson for a win that may yet prove significant in the burgeoning title race.
Fortune favours Arsenal as Mikel Arteta finally outdoes Pep Guardiola
FT Arsenal 1-0 Man City
18:36 , Mike Jones
Manchester City had four shots in this match – it’s the fewest shots a Pep Guardiola side has had in a top-flight game since April 2010 with Barcelona against Espanyol (also four).
Full-time! Arsenal 1-0 Man City
18:25 , Mike Jones
90+4 mins: There goes the full-time whistle! Arsenal have taken a monumental step in the Premier League title race. They’ve beaten the reigning champions and move above them in the table.
The Gunners are level on points with Tottenham as the international break arrives. Gabriel Martinelli is the hero of the day. Man City lose consecutive league games.
Arsenal 1-0 Man City
18:20 , Mike Jones
90 mins: The Arsenal fans are in full voice as the chant and sing their team to victory. There’s four more minutes for them to play out though as the added time is announced.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Man City (Martinelli, 87’)⚽️
18:18 , Mike Jones
87 mins: Wild scenes at the Emirates Stadium!
Gabriel Martinelli comes off the bench to score late against Manchester City. A cross comes in from the right wing where Takehiro Tomiyasu nods the ball down to Kai Havertz.
Havertz lays it off to Martinelli who drills a shot at goal. It hits Nathan Ake and deflects past Ederson to send the Gunners ahead!
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
18:14 , Mike Jones
82 mins: Erling Haaland links up with Matheus Nunes as the latter drives towards the box. His run is cut short by a defending Declan Rice and the attack breaks down.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
18:12 , Mike Jones
78 mins: Mikel Arteta now makes a triple change of his own as Eddie Nketiah, Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko are taken off to be replaced with Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kai Havertz.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
18:05 , Mike Jones
75 mins: Poor from Odegaard! Arsenal burst forward on the counter-attack and slip Gabriel Martinelli down the left wing.
Martinelli takes on Kyle Walker before skipping inside of Bernardo Silva and squaring a pass over to his captain. Odegaard takes a touch then smokes a long-ranged effort high and wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
18:02 , Mike Jones
72 mins: Manchester City’s substitutes look to bed themselves into the game and City do start to gain more possession and ground. Arsenal are holding firm though, keeping the champions at bay.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
18:00 , Mike Jones
69 mins: Pep Guardiola makes three changes for Man City. John Stones, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku come on with Mateo Kovacic, Julian Alvarez and Rico Lewis taken off.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:56 , Mike Jones
66 mins: Julian Alvarez whips a Man City corner into the box but David Raya confidently punches the ball away. The Arsenal goalkeeper has grown into the game following a shaky start but City haven’t really challenged him.
Guardiola is preparing a few changes on the sidelines.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:53 , Mike Jones
63 mins: Arsenal work the ball into the box and see a shot deflected behind for a corner. The set piece comes into the middle and pinballs around before dropping to Oleksandr Zinchenko.
He shoots from range and belts the ball well wide of the goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:51 , Mike Jones
60 mins: No changes yet from Pep Guardiola who is trusting his team to get the job done against Arsenal here. They’re the second best team in this half though and haven’t managed a shot on target.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:46 , Mike Jones
57 mins: Bernardo Silva recovers the ball and sweeps it across to Rico Lewis who bombs through the middle of the pitch, Gabriel Martinelli sprints back and knocks him to ground.
The referee blows the whistle for a foul just as Lewis gets back to his feet, takes the ball into the box and puts it past David Raya. Arsenal had stopped playing though and the play is brought back for the free kick.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:44 , Mike Jones
54 mins: Manchester City haven’t been at the races at all in this second half. Martinelli’s energy has kept them on the back foot and Pep Guardiola will be thinking hard about changing things up.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:40 , Mike Jones
51 mins: Arsenal are stepping onto the front foot in this second half. Martinelli swings a corner ball into the box that Gabriel looks to get to inside the six yard area.
Ederson tries to flap the ball away but it skips through to Gabriel Jesus. He knocks it to Martin Odegaard whose effort from range sails high and wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:37 , Mike Jones
48 mins: Martinelli’s impact on the game comes immediately. Oleksandr Zinchenko feeds him the ball on the left wing and the forward cuts inside before lifting a cross to the back post.
The ball just goes over everyone’s heads but it’s got the Arsenal fans excited.
Second half! Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:35 , Mike Jones
Gabriel Martinelli is brought onto the pitch for Arsenal to replace Leandro Trossard at the break. It’s an attacking plan from Mikel Arteta and if Martinelli is fit he could prove to be the difference in the forward line.
The Gunners get the ball rolling again for the second half.
HT Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:34 , Mike Jones
Half-time! Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:24 , Mike Jones
45+2 mins: No goals but plenty to talk about in that half. The big moment is Mateo Kovacic’s potential red card which wasn’t given. The Man City midfielder has made a couple of dodgy tackles and it is bewildering how he’s still on the pitch.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:17 , Mike Jones
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half. Nothing to separate teams thus far.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:12 , Mike Jones
42 mins: Phil Foden curls a corner kick into the box for Man City but doesn’t find a teammate. Instead William Saliba leaps into the air and nods the ball clear for the Gunners who recover it and look to build an attack of their own.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:10 , Mike Jones
39 mins: Things have heated up now. A throw in from Arsenal gives the ball to Martin Odegaard who lays it off to the edge of the box for the arriving Oleksandr Zinchenko.
He shoots once, twice but both efforts are blocked and City eventually boot the ball away.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:07 , Mike Jones
36 mins: Mateo Kovacic is a lucky, lucky boy. He leaps into a diving tackle Declan Rice and takes out the Arsenal midfielder’s right ankle.
That’s a certain yellow card, but the referee doesn’t pull one out. Perhaps he doesn’t want to send Kovacic, already on a yellow, off so early in the game but Man City have got away with one there.
17:03 , Mike Jones
33 mins: Josko Gvardiol gets the Arsenal fans on their feet with a heavy tackle on Gabriel Jesus which comes just after the foul on Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain flicks the resultant free kick into the box but Ederson is in control of the ball and plucks it out of the air.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
17:01 , Mike Jones
30 mins: Mateo Kovacic hacks down Martin Odegaard and earns himself a yellow card. He follows through into the ankle of the Arsenal captain and a VAR check takes place to see if their was foul play involved.
Kovacic survives though.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:58 , Mike Jones
27 mins: Close! Eddie Nketiah darts in between Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake before being fed the ball inside the penalty area. He checks to the right and opens up the far corner but his effort goes wide of the target.
Big opportunity for Arsenal that.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:57 , Mike Jones
26 mins: Gabriel Jesus, playing out on the right side of the front line, slips the ball inside before making a run into the box and waiting for it to come back.
The ball is chipped over the top and Jesus shoulder Phil Foden to the ground before flicking an effort at goal. The whistle has already gone though and City are awarded a free kick for the foul on Foden.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:55 , Mike Jones
23 mins: Mateo Kovacic nicks the ball off Declan Rice and slips it to Julian Alvarez. He brings the ball into the right side of the penaly area and looks for a teammate but Arsenal recover well and clear their lines.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:52 , Mike Jones
20 mins: Phil Foden darts inside from the right and makes another cutting run into the box.
He’s made this move a couple of times off the ball but this time the ball is flicked over to him but the midfielder cannot reach the dropping ball in order to turn it towards goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:49 , Mike Jones
17 mins: Close! David Raya looks very nervous. He’s given the ball and shifts it onto his right foot just as Julian Alvarez charges him down.
A panicked clearance from the goalkeeper sees the ball hit Alvarez and bounce out for a goal kick. Raya has looked shaky so far today.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:48 , Mike Jones
16 mins: Julian Alvarez forces his way forward depsite losing the ball a couple of times. He flicks it to Rico Lewis who manages to find Kyle Walker’s forward run on the right wing.
The City captain whips a cross into the box but David Raya plucks the ball out of the air.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:45 , Mike Jones
13 mins: City are pushing up the pitch but they aren’t pressing with a great deal of intensity. Instead it looks as though Pep Guardiola wants his team to man mark and play through the lines when they turn over the ball.
Arsenal have had a bit of possession but they’ve not advanced as far as Mikel Arteta would like, yet.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:41 , Mike Jones
10 mins: Martin Odegaard curls a corner ball into the box as Arsenal start to find their feet in this game. Eddie Nketiah looked to be the target but City work it away and fly forward through Phil Foden.
He doesn’t get far before Jorginho recovers the ball.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:40 , Mike Jones
7 mins: Nathan Ake follows up the Gvardiol chance by lifting a shot of his own over the top of the crossbar. Manchester City are making Arsenal work in this early stages.
Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:36 , Mike Jones
4 mins: Chance! Manchester City win a corner and whip it into the penalty area. The ball comes through to Josko Gvardiol who turns it towards goal.
David Raya is beaten but Declan Rice heads the ball away off the goal line!
Kick off! Arsenal 0-0 Man City
16:33 , Mike Jones
Manchester City get the ball rolling at the Emirates Stadium and send it back to Ederson. He boots it forward towards Erling Haaland but the main striker isn’t able to bring it under control and the ball bounces safely through to David Raya in Arsenal’s goal.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:26 , Mike Jones
Erling Haaland scored in both of the top-flight clashes with Arsenal last season, with each goal coming after the 80th minute.
Haaland has scored in his previous four Premier League outings in London, a run which started with a goal in City’s 3-1 win at Arsenal in February.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:22 , Mike Jones
Mikel Arteta’s side have kept just four clean sheets in their past 28 home league fixtures, with 63% of the goals they have conceded since the start of last season coming at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have dropped points in five of their eight Premier League home games without Bukayo Saka, winning three, drawing three and losing two.
Saka doesn’t feature this afternoon.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:18 , Mike Jones
Manchester City could lose back-to-back Premier League fixtures for the first time since December 2018, when they were beaten by Crystal Palace and Leicester.
City have lost one third of their 15 league matches without Rodri since his debut in August 2019, compared to just 13% of the 144 games he has featured in.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:14 , Mike Jones
Arsenal are unbeaten in the Premier League, winning five and drawing two of their seven matches. However, the Gunners suffered their first loss of the season in midweek, going down 2-1 to Lens in the Champions League.
The north Londoners have won 19 of their past 26 Premier League home games, drawing five and losing to Manchester City and Brighton.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:10 , Mike Jones
Arsenal have gone 16 top-flight games against Manchester City without keeping a clean sheet.
City are the only side that Mikel Arteta has failed to beat during his managerial career in the Premier League – he has lost all seven meetings against his former club.
Arsenal vs Man City
16:06 , Mike Jones
Arsenal have lost 15 of the past 16 meetings between the teams, including 12 consecutive Premier League defeats. The Gunners’ last two wins over City have come in FA Cup semi-finals: 2-0 in 2020 and 2-1 in 2017
16:02 , Mike Jones
That draw means Liverpool move up to third place in the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal who face Manchester City in this afternoon’s late kick off.
Full-time! Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
16:00 , Mike Jones
90+4 mins: A late Liverpool free kick is lifted into the box but there’s a foul which gives the ball to Brighton. The final whistle goes and the points are shared at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
15:50 , Mike Jones
90 mins: Just four minutes of added time to play at the Amex Stadium. Will there be a winner?
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
15:46 , Mike Jones
86 mins: Andy Robertson drills a cross into the Brighton box searching for Mo Salah on the far side of the penalty area. Bart Verbruggen comes off his line and confidently plucks the ball out of the air before flinging it forward to get Brighton back up the pitch.
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
15:44 , Mike Jones
84 mins: Another Brighton free kick sees Pascal Gross shoot at goal only for Mo Salah to deflect the ball out for a corner. This one is played short but Salah is on hand again to ping the ball clear when it eventually does come into the box.
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
15:41 , Mike Jones
81 mins: How will this match end now? Can one of these teams go on a claim a winning goal? We’re into the last 10 minutes of the 90 at the Amex Stadium and it’s Brighton pressing up the pitch.
GOAL! Brighton 2-2 Liverpool (Dunk, 78’)⚽️
15:39 , Mike Jones
78 mins: Brighton continue to push for a goal and win a free kick over on a left side of the box. Solly March curls the ball into the six-yard box where Lewis Dunk turns the ball past Alisson on the volley!
Game on!
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:37 , Mike Jones
75 mins: Darwin Nunez is penalised for a foul on Lewis Dunk as Brighton look for an equaliser of their own. They work the ball over to Simon Adingra who shoots from a tight angle and lifts his effort over the top.
Arsenal vs Man City line-ups
15:32 , Mike Jones
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Trossard, Jesus, Nketiah
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
⚖️ Jorginho in the middle🪄 Trossard on the wing📞 Nketiah leads the line
Let’s do this – together ✊ pic.twitter.com/thTQLhyQVJ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 8, 2023
Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland
Your City team! 🙌
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/XRfzbmRUKd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 8, 2023
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:30 , Mike Jones
69 mins: There’s a huge shout from Brighton for a handball inside the Liverpool penalty area after Kaoru Mitoma sweeps into the box from the right side.
He smashes a shot towards goal and pings the ball into the arm of Virgil van Dijk. The Brighton fans aren’t happy but I’m not sure what Van Dijk is meant to do there.
He’s too close to the ball to move out of the way from it.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:26 , Mike Jones
66 mins: Mo Salah weaves into the box with the ball and looks for a pass. None of his teammates are around and he’s forced wide before eventually losing possession.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:23 , Mike Jones
63 mins: Liverpool burst forward on the counter with Trent Alexander-Arnold trying to release the ball behind the Brighton defence for Mo Salah.
He threads the gap well but the ball goes too far away from Salah for the winger to make an impact and Bart Verbruggen sweeps out to collect the ball.
Jan Paul van Hecke replaces Igor Julio for Brighton. Igor seems to have picked up a niggle.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:20 , Mike Jones
60 mins: Brighton make a change and take off Evan Ferguson. Danny Welbeck comes on to replace the froward who was starting to get isolated up top in this second half.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:17 , Mike Jones
57 mins: Liverpool should be out of sight but instead Brighton have a corner. Solly March swings it into the middle but Joel Matip is on hand to nod the ball clear.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:14 , Mike Jones
54 mins: Crossbar! How has he missed?!
Darwin Nunez is fed the ball and he slips it into the penalty area for Dominik Szobozslai. The midfielder works the ball to the far post where Ryan Gravenberch has an open goal but he lifts his effort into the crossbar!
Wow.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:13 , Mike Jones
53 mins: Kaoru Mitoma clatters into Joel Matip and brings down the defender after he clears the lines. Liverpool win a free kick inside their own half and look to slowly build an attack from the back.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:10 , Mike Jones
50 mins: Save! Evan Ferguson collects the ball and whips a lovely pass in behind the Liverpool defence. Simon Adingra nips around Andy Robertson and takes the ball into the box before fizzing a shot at Alisson who manages to keep it out!
Huge moment for Liverpool.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:08 , Mike Jones
48 mins: Liverpool already look like a more lively team since the restart. Mo Salah presses high up the pitch and dinks the ball away from Solly March before falling to the ground.
March doesn’t follow through with his clearance and as such wins Brighton a throw in.
Second half! Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:06 , Mike Jones
Jurgen Klopp makes a change at half-time bringing on Ryan Gravenberch to replace Harvey Elliott. Brighton are unchanged as they get the match back underway.
Arsenal vs Manchester City
15:03 , Mike Jones
The late kick off today sees Arsenal take on Manchester City. We’ll have dedicated coverage of that one following the conclusion of this game at the Amex Stadium.
HT Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
15:00 , Mike Jones
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 126 Premier League matches when leading at half-time (won 116, drawn 10) dating back to 4th December 2016 against Bournemouth when they lost 4-3 away from home.
HT Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
14:56 , Mike Jones
Half-time: Brighton 1-2 Liverpool
14:51 , Mike Jones
45+3 mins: Liverpool go into the break with a slender lead thanks to two goals from Mo Salah. Out of nowhere Jurgen Klopp’s men are in front but it’s been Brighton who have been the brighter of the two sides.
If Liverpool click into gear for the second half, Roberto de Zerbi’s men may be in more trouble than they currently are. Is there a way back for Brighton?
GOAL! Brighton 1-2 Liverpool (Salah, 45+1’)⚽️
14:46 , Mike Jones
45+1 mins: Mo Salah smashes the penalty into the far corner and Liverpool come from behind to lead before the break.
Penalty to Liverpool!
14:45 , Mike Jones
Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
43 mins: Brighton are caught trying to play out from the back and Dominik Szobozslai wins the ball. He combines with Darwin Nunez before getting dragged to the deck.
The ball rolls out to Luis Diaz who is brought down in the box as well. VAR looks at both incident and agrees that Liverpool should be awarded a penalty.
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Liverpool (Salah, 40’)⚽️
14:42 , Mike Jones
40 mins: Liverpool are level!
Brighton give the ball away to Szobozslai who spins and threads it up to Luis Diaz. He turns the ball to Darwin Nunez on the edge of the box before a slipped pass finds Mo Salah – after Harvey Elliott lets it run – and Salah makes no mistakes in slotting it home.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:39 , Mike Jones
38 mins: Chance! Brighton win themselves a free kick on the edge of the ‘D’ that Lewis Dunk lines up. His effort hits the Liverpool wall the but comes out to Simon Adingra who lifts a decent effort over the top of the crossbar.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:38 , Mike Jones
35 mins: Liverpool’s performance today has been too slow. It’s too easy for Brighton to defend against and when the hosts transition into attack they’re onto the front foot quickly almost shocking the Reds with the speed of their play.
Liverpool win the ball high up the pitch and a couple of one touch passes from Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szobozslai almost get Mo Salah in on goal but the ball is intercepted at the last moment.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:33 , Mike Jones
32 mins: Close! Carlos Belaba collects the ball in the middle of the pitch and slices through the Liverpool midfield. He weaves and twists, bringing the ball to the edge of the box before scuffing a shot wide of the right-hand post.
Alisson leapt across but might not have reached that one had it been on target.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:30 , Mike Jones
29 mins: Liverpool clear the next corner without too much trouble but can’t do anything with the ball when they boot it down the other side of the pitch.
Brighton transition quickly and send the ball over to Simon Adingra. He slips a fine pass into the box for Kaoru Mitoma but the winger miscontrols the ball and the Reds are forced to work it clear again.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:28 , Mike Jones
26 mins: Pascal Gross looks for another goal with a fine run through the middle of the park. He brings the ball within shooting distance and sees his effort deflected behind for a corner.
The corner ball is played short before getting sent to Solly March who lifts a cross to the far side of the penalty area and wins another set piece.
Brighton 1-0 Liverpool
14:25 , Mike Jones
23 mins: That goal will annoy Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool have been playing in such a way as to invite Brighton’s defence higher up the pitch and they’ve been undone at their own game.
Mo Salah has a wild shot from wide of the box in reply but it doesn’t go anywhere near the target.
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Liverpool (Adringa, 20’)⚽️
14:22 , Mike Jones
20 mins: Shocking from Liverpool!
A terrible pass from Virgil van Dijk leaves Alexis Mac Allister with nowhere to go and his pocket is picked deep in his own half by Simon Adringra.
Alisson is off his line as Adingra brings the ball to the box which means the goalkeeper cannot get across to stop the low fizzing effort from finding the back of the net!
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:20 , Mike Jones
18 mins: This match hasn’t really caught fire yet. There’s been the odd moment for Brighton but Liverpool have offered little in terms of attacking prowess.
They’re very timid on the ball which is a surprise.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:18 , Mike Jones
15 mins: Brighton counter-attack after winning the ball deep in their own half. A high pressing Trent Alexander-Arnold is swept past without too much trouble but the ball gets fed into Kaoru Mitoma.
Mitoma flies down the line and wins Brighton a free kick when he’s taken out by former teammate Alexis Mac Allister.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:14 , Mike Jones
12 mins: Liverpool now manage to get some time on the ball inside Brighton’s half. The hosts are compact with their defensive shape and the Reds aren’t passing the ball around with much purpose.
It feels as though they’re still trying to get themselves into this match.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:11 , Mike Jones
9 mins: Mo Salah has drifted into a more central position as Liverpool struggle to play out from the back. A lofted pass forward from Alexis Mac Allister just goes over his head and Darwin Nunez isn’t able to pounce on the loose ball before the hosts work it away.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:07 , Mike Jones
6 mins: Brighton win a couple of consecutive corners that are scrambled away by Liverpool. The ball comes back into the middle of the box and sits up for Joao Pedro whose shot is deflected past the far post by one of his own teammates.
Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:04 , Mike Jones
3 mins: Brighton win a free kick over on the right side of the pitch which Pascal Gross floats over the penalty area. Lewis Dunk is the target but a Liverpool head gets to the ball first and deflects it out for a corner.
Kick off! Brighton 0-0 Liverpool
14:02 , Mike Jones
After a false start, Liverpool get the match going at the Amex Stadium with a long ball down the right side. It’s easily won and comes into Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen who looks to play out from the back.
Brighton vs Liverpool
14:00 , Mike Jones
Here come the teams.
Virgil van Dijk leads out a Liverpool team who will be looking to bounceback after their controversial defeat to Tottenham last time out.
Brighton have been a tricky side to break down away from home but can Jurgen Klopp’s men get the job done today?
Pre-match thoughts from Harvey Elliott
13:54 , Mike Jones
Liverpool midfielder, Harvey Elliott says he is over the moon ahead of his first Premier League start of the season.
“We need to go out on the pitch and play football again,” he said, “Hopefully get three more points. What happened in the past is the past and we need to go out there and perform.
“I am over the moon. You can see the quality in the team and it’s part of football. Waiting for your opportunity and hopefully I can take it.”
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:50 , Mike Jones
Ryan Gravenberch has either scored or assisted in each of his three Liverpool starts in all competitions. He starts from the bench today though.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:46 , Mike Jones
Mo Salah has been directly involved in 12 goals in 12 top-flight appearances against Brighton, scoring six times and providing six assists.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:42 , Mike Jones
Solly March has been directly involved in five of Brighton’s last eight Premier League goals against Liverpool, with two goals and three assists.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:38 , Mike Jones
Robert De Zerbi’s side have scored in 23 consecutive Premier League matches since a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in February with Brighton’s five home fixtures this season producing an average of 4.4 goals per game.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:34 , Mike Jones
Liverpool’s 17-match Premier League unbeaten run was ended by a controversial 2-1 defeat at Tottenham last weekend.
The Reds could lose back-to-back league games for the first time since a pair of away defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City in March and April.
And, Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded first in each of their past four away fixtures.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:30 , Mike Jones
Brighton have made their best start to a Premier League season, winning five of their opening seven games. However, Albion lost 6-1 to Aston Villa in their last league outing, conceding six goals for the first time in the top flight.
What will their response be today?
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:26 , Mike Jones
The Seagulls have only won two of their 14 home league games against the Reds, drawing six and losing six with Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge of Brighton being a 3-3 draw at Anfield in October 2022.
Brighton vs Liverpool
13:22 , Mike Jones
Brighton have won the past two meetings in all competitions, with both victories coming at the Amex Stadium in January.
Liverpool have registered just one win from their previous six Premier League clashes with Brighton, drawing three and losing two.
Who will come out on top today?
Liverpool’s new double-act are surprising even Jurgen Klopp
13:18 , Mike Jones
Here’s more on the potential for a Mac Allister-Gravenberch double-act by our senior football correspondent, Richard Jolly:
Liverpool’s new double-act are surprising even Jurgen Klopp
I don’t know Mac Allister’s best role, Klopp admits
13:12 , Mike Jones
Alexis Mac Allister faces his former club Brighton for the first time since a summer switch to Liverpool.
Mac Allister has slowly settled down in the base of Liverpool’s midfield and Klopp said he was not looking at finding the best position for the Argentine World Cup winner just yet.
“We just use him. He’s a fantastic player. I love everything about him – super-smart, tactically and off the pitch as well. So that’s really, really nice to work with him,” Klopp said.
“We defend more compact and better than we did in our bad phases last year. We have small spaces and it’s really, really good because he sees the situations really well.
“And from there we have an extra footballer on the pitch and it’s really cool.”
Brighton the best coached team in Premier League, says Jurgen Klopp
13:06 , Mike Jones
Brighton & Hove Albion are the best-coached club in the Premier League and play “incredible football” despite losing their best players, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Brighton finished sixth last season to qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history, but they lost two key midfielders in the close season with Alexis Mac Allister moving to Liverpool while Moises Caicedo made the switch to Chelsea.
The south-coast club are sixth in the league this season but are bottom of their Europa League group without a win while their last league match was a 6-1 humbling by Aston Villa. Liverpool are fourth, one point above Brighton.
“Brighton had a few results which didn’t go exactly in their way, but that’s a completely normal situation in a development. They had a lot of changes, lost top players – one of them we got – and still play incredible football,” Klopp told reporters.
“We expect a really tough game against one of the best sides in the league, best-coached team in the league, I would say,” Klopp said, adding that they made a “smart move” in hiring Roberto De Zerbi to replace Graham Potter.
“They made really big steps and are super-consistent – different formations, different players, lineups – wow! In the end you always see Brighton football and I couldn’t respect that more.”
Brighton vs Liverpool team changes
13:04 , Mike Jones
Roberto de Zerbi making six changes from the team that were hammered by Aston Villa last time out. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is in for Jason Steele with Igor Julio, Joao Pedro, Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra also included. Danny Welbeck and Billy Gilmour are among those dropping to the bench.
Jurgen Klopp makes three changes to the Liverpool side that last started the controversial 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.
Harvey Elliott, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold are included replacing Curtis Jones (suspended), Cody Gakpo (knee injury) and Joe Gomez (bench).
Brighton vs Liverpool line-ups
13:00 , Mike Jones
Brighton XI:
Liverpool XI:
🔴 #BHALIV Team news 🔴
How we line-up this afternoon to take on Brighton:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 8, 2023
Brighton vs Liverpool prediction
12:54 , Mike Jones
Roberto de Zerbi’s men will make things difficult for Jurgen Klopp’s men but there should be enough quality within Liverpool’s team to ensure they ease past a Brighton side struggling for form.
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool.
Brighton vs Liverpool team news
12:48 , Mike Jones
Brighton lost Pervis Estupinan to injury last Saturday and the defender is expected to be absent for a while according to boss Roberto De Zerbi. Pascal Gross is fit to feature after starting against Marseille but James Milner and Adam Lallana are doubts.
Following their red cards against Tottenham, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are suspended for this match. Cody Gakpo came off at half time against Tottenham with what appeared to be a leg injury it is doubtful that he will feature with Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain absent. Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit again and should start after being named in Gareth Southgate’s upcoming England squad.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website
