Brighton upset Champions Liverpool 3-2 at Falmer Stadium as Jack Hinshelwood scored a late winner to keep their slender hopes of playing in Europe alive. Liverpool opened strong, with Harvey Elliott scoring in the ninth minute from a Conor Bradley pass. Yasin Ayari equalised in the 32nd minute after Brajan Gruda’s superb ball.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored with a falling cross-shot that beat Bart Verbruggen late in the first half to give Liverpool the lead again.
Brighton manager Fabian Huerzeler made outstanding second-half adjustments by bringing on the appropriate players. Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma equalised four minutes after coming in, scoring on a Danny Welbeck rebound in the 69th minute.
The 84th-minute substitute Hinshelwood scored a minute later on a Matt O’Riley assist. After a lengthy VAR review, the goal was reinstated, and match hero Hinshelwood celebrated.
“Coming off the bench, I wanted to come into the game and make a great impact and work my hardest,” he stated.
I think the ball came across nicely and I tapped it in. The goal was allowed after a nervous wait, and it was pure relief.”
The win moved Brighton into eighth place with 58 points from 37 games, three points ahead of ninth-placed Brentford with a game in hand. Eighth-placed teams may qualify for the UEFA Conference League next season.
