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Liverpool beat Brighton thanks to Hugo Ekitike’s brace as Mohamed Salah returned to the squad while Chelsea set a club record run of wins against Everton.
Liverpool climbed to sixth in the Premier League table as a brace from Hugo Ekitike sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
The win extends the Reds' unbeaten streak to five games in all competitions.
Despite much of the pre-match focus being on Mohamed Salah's return, the Egyptian star began the game on the bench.
Manager Arne Slot's team, fresh off a 1-0 midweek win against Inter Milan, made a blistering start. Just 46 seconds into the match, Hugo Ekitike latched onto a courageous header from Joe Gomez and clinically finished past Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen to give the hosts an early lead.
Brighton, however, were not discouraged by the early goal and gradually found their footing. They came close to an equaliser when Yankuba Minteh's powerful shot flew just wide of the post, and Álisson Becker was called into action to deny a close-range attempt from Diego Gomez.
Ekitike Seals All Points for the Reds
An unfortunate injury to Joe Gomez in the 26th minute prompted the introduction of Salah, who was welcomed by a thunderous ovation from the home crowd.
The substitute nearly made an instant impact, playing a key role in a swift counter-attack that ended with Ekitike curling a shot just off target. As the first half drew to a close, chances continued to emerge, with a crucial block from Ibrahima Konate preventing a dangerous strike from Gómez.
The Seagulls started the second half brightly and missed a golden opportunity to level the score when Gómez failed to convert from only a few yards out at the back post. The miss proved decisive, as Liverpool doubled their advantage on the hour mark. Salah delivered a perfect in-swinging corner, and an unmarked Ekitike calmly headed the ball home for his seventh league goal of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Chelsea secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge, extending their remarkable unbeaten home run against the Toffees in the Premier League to 31 matches—a club record against any single opponent.
Cole Palmer Back With A Bang
The match began sluggishly, with an early injury to former Chelsea player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall disrupting the flow of the game and forcing his premature substitution. Once the contest settled, however, it was the home side that took control.
The return of the influential Cole Palmer, who had been sidelined with an injury, proved decisive. He marked his comeback by opening the scoring, expertly converting a well-placed pass from Malo Gusto for his first goal since September.
Enzo Maresca's team continued to press their advantage, with Alejandro Garnacho coming agonizingly close to doubling the lead when his curling shot flew just wide of the post. Everton were handed a rare opportunity to equalise when James Tarkowski found himself unmarked at a corner, but he failed to direct his header on target.
The miss proved costly, as Chelsea struck again just before halftime. Gusto, the provider for the first goal, turned scorer in stoppage time, finishing off a swift counter-attack with a sharp finish at the near post.