Match reportLiverpool held to 3-3 draw by Brighton at Anfield

The Reds came from two down to lead 3-2 on Saturday afternoon as Roberto Firmino’s double was supplemented by an Adam Webster own goal, but Leandro Trossard completed his hat-trick with seven minutes left to secure a point for the visitors.

Trossard scored twice inside the opening 18 minutes to give Roberto De Zerbi’s side a healthy early advantage, but Firmino made it 2-1 at the break.

Firmino’s second of the game restored parity quickly after half-time and it appeared that the hosts had managed a remarkable turnaround when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner bounced in off Webster.

But late frustration was to follow when Trossard fired home his third at the Kop end.

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Team news

Jürgen Klopp made three changes to his line-up from the win over AFC Ajax last time out, with Jordan Henderson, Fabio Carvalho and Firmino coming in for Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Milner, 58), Fabinho, Henderson (Elliott, 58), Thiago (Nunez, 89), Carvalho (Diaz, 46), Salah, Firmino (Jota, 75).

Unused subs: Adrian, Gomez, Arthur, Phillips.

First half

Anfield was bathed in glorious early autumn sunshine for the Reds’ first game in nearly three weeks, and it was the Seagulls who made the bright start.

Trossard’s first goal arrived with four minutes gone, the forward collecting Danny Welbeck’s flick and shooting low and hard across Alisson Becker.

Buoyed, Brighton attacked again and Alisson saved Welbeck’s header from close range before the No.1 spread himself brilliantly at Trossard’s feet to deny the 27-year-old his second of the afternoon.

A precise attempt from Mohamed Salah was stopped by Robert Sanchez as Liverpool showed signs of a response, but another piece of neat Brighton interplay around the hosts’ box resulted in Trossard blasting home to double their lead.

Klopp’s team reacted positively and only a last-ditch intervention from Joel Veltman prevented Carvalho from tapping in a devilish Alexander-Arnold delivery.

Anfield roared its support of the greater level of threat now on display from their side and a sliding Salah was somehow denied by a combination of Sanchez and Lewis Dunk.

Liverpool’s goal would soon come, though, and Firmino was responsible. Salah found the No.9 with a clever and unselfish square ball and Firmino applied the finishing touch by deftly lifting over Sanchez.

The strike was initially ruled out for offside against Salah, but a VAR review confirmed he was onside and the decibel level rose again inside Anfield.

Second half

Diaz replaced Carvalho at half-time and the Colombian’s influence was writ large over the Reds’ 54th-minute equaliser.

The counter-attack rounded off by Firmino was launched by Henderson’s poise, the captain locating Thiago Alcantara with a fine pass from inside his own penalty area.

Thiago in turn fed Diaz, who dribbled infield prior to finding Firmino. The No.9 duly danced his way past Dunk and slotted beyond Sanchez with ice-cool composure.

Firmino nearly got his hat-trick when Sanchez saved his header from Henderson’s fizzed cross – though Liverpool’s pressure would tell soon enough, as Sanchez misjudged Alexander-Arnold’s corner and the ball went in off Webster to make it 3-2.

Brighton were not done, however, and Alisson made an excellent save to parry away Welbeck’s header amid a spell of Seagulls pressure that would end with Trossard finishing well at the back post.

Alexander-Arnold went close to snatching the three points with a stoppage-time free-kick that Sanchez turned wide, but a frantic game ended all square.

Attendance: 53,336