Liverpool fell to a 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Monday night, despite the champions twice taking the lead on the south coast as the Seagulls kept up their hopes for European qualification
Arne Slot claimed Liverpool’s defeat at Brighton was a “joy to watch” despite admitting his champions have dropped off since claiming a 20th league title. Super sub Jack Hinshelwood scored a dramatic late winner to keep alive Brighton ’s slim hopes of qualifying for Europe.
Harvey Elliott and Dominic Szoboszlai netted in the first half as champions Liverpool scored in every away Premier League game for the first time – and Trent Alexander-Arnold stayed on the bench. But goals from Yasin Ayari and late strikes from subs Kaoru Mitoma and Hinshelswood saw the home side win an entertaining encounter.
“It was a great game of football,” Slot said. “Two teams who wanted to play. Two teams who wanted to win. No time wasting, no tumbling. “It was a joy to watch but unfortunately not the result we wanted.”
The Reds have failed to win in three games since clinching their 20th title on April 27. Slot, who made four changes including giving a first Premier League start to Federico Chiesa, said: “I saw many things that I already knew and one of them is how close the margins have been throughout the whole season.
“And now, with us failing to score the third and just missing maybe this 2-3% sometimes in defensive work, it leads us to lose games.
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“I know it is Chelsea, Brighton and I know we didn’t lose against Arsenal. We won this league because we have been so consistent, we have done so many things right but we haven’t won it in a way – like City have for the last four seasons – where they could close their eyes and be 4-0 up.
“We have been very close in quality with all the teams we have competed with.
“That is why it is such a big compliment we have won this league by such a big margin because the quality margins are not that different between us and some other teams.. It is a big compliment to our players.”
Matchwinner Hinshelwood came off the bench along with his cousin Harry Howell – a Premier League first.
“It was a really nice moment coming on with my cousin,” he said. “We’ve been working so hard since we were kids.
“Playing together since we were just born kicking balls with each other, so to come on together and he made a great run across the front post to open the gap for me, so I’ll be thanking him later.”
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