Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Mohamed Salah scores the winning goal at Anfield

Mohamed Salah scored his 16th Premier League goal of the season – but his first since February 17

Liverpool will end the weekend at the top of the Premier League after Mohamed Salah scored the winner against Brighton at Anfield before Manchester City and Arsenal drew.

The Reds knew a win against Brighton could prove significant with their title rivals going head-to-head in Sunday's late kick-off.

Liverpool fell behind early but fought back to win 2-1 and climb above Arsenal – and their stay at the top was extended as City and the Gunners played out a goalless draw late in Sunday's kick-off.

Liverpool have 67 points with nine rounds to go, while Arsenal – who have a better goal difference – are second on 65 points and City are a point behind in third.

Earlier, Brighton striker Danny Welbeck stunned Jurgen Klopp's side by firing the ball into the top corner in just 87 seconds.

Liverpool responded strongly and began to dominate possession, with Luis Diaz equalizing from close range half an hour ago.

Salah, making his first league start since New Year's Day, had missed many chances but was finally able to convert one when he coolly shot home in the 65th minute from a pass from Alexis Mac Allister.

The hosts thought they had all but sealed the win when Diaz scored after 73 minutes, but his attempt was canceled out by the video assistant referee for a narrow offside call.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk came closest to securing a draw for the visitors, but home goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved two headers in quick succession.

Former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana also shot wide, just moments after coming on as a late substitute.

Ultimately, Salah's goal made the difference as relieved Reds fans greeted the final whistle with an exuberant celebration.

Salah, the match winner – at some point

I loved the game – Klopp in the win over Brighton

The title race has become a fascinating three-way battle where every point lost could be decisive.

And with Liverpool playing before the two rivals faced off, Easter Sunday has long been seen as a potentially crucial day in the league season.

All the Reds could do was concentrate on winning their game against a Brighton side that had a good record against Klopp's team and was led by a manager in Roberto de Zerbi, seen as a potential successor to the German was touted.

The hosts had to show fight, faith and patience before Salah failed to emerge victorious for the first time in a game of enormous consequence.

For more than an hour it looked like it wouldn't be the Egyptian striker's day as plenty of chances awaited the Reds' talisman.

Salah had fired seven shots in the first half without really troubling Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen, while he couldn't quite reach Diaz's faked cross at the far post after half-time.

Another opportunity arose when Mac Allister's deft ball broke through his former club's defense and this time Salah found the bottom corner with a calm finish.

Only time will tell exactly how important this victory will prove to be – especially given the many twists and turns to come in the remaining nine rounds of play.

De Zerbi's Brighton impressed in defeat

De Zerbi praises Brighton's 'honour' after defeat to Liverpool

Brighton were something of a bogeyman for Liverpool, having only lost to the Reds once in their seven previous games heading into this encounter.

De Zerbi has won many admirers for his style and tactical skills, was praised by Klopp before the game and has never been beaten by the German before.

Welbeck's early opener – an instinctive first-time shot into the top corner in front of the Kop – suggested it could be another successful day for the Seagulls.

Brighton defended deep and compactly as they looked to maintain their lead, using the pace of Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra on the left to threaten on the counter-attack.

There were half chances for the visitors to extend their lead, with Adingra, Welbeck and Jakub Moder all going close before the break.

Even when they fell behind, Brighton refused to roll over and De Zerbi's attacking changes almost resulted in Lallana returning to his former club.

But they failed to pick up a point and the defeat means the Seagulls remain in ninth place.

If De Zerbi – whose future remains uncertain – can ensure Brighton qualify for European football again it would be another great achievement, given his team has been hit hard by injuries this season.

Player of the game

Mac AllisterAlexis Mac Allister

Lineups

Liverpool

formation 4-3-3

62Kelleher

84Bradley78Quansah4van Dijk2Gomez

10Mac Allister3Endo8thSzoboszla

11Salah9Nunez7Diaz

• 62Kelleher
• 84Bradley
• 78Quansah
• 4van DijkBooked for 50 minutes
• 2GomezBooked for 58 minutes
• 10Mac AllisterBooked at 14 minutes
• 3EndoBooked for 88 minutes
• 8thSzoboszlaReplaced byGravenbergat 90+4'protocol
• 11Salah
• 9NunezReplaced byElliottat 83'protocol
• 7DiazReplaced bysteelat 89'protocolBooked for 90 minutes

Substitute

• 5Konate
• 13Adrian
• 18steel
• 19Elliott
• 21Tsimikas
• 38Gravenberg
• 42Clark
• 53McConnell
• 76Dance

Brighton

formation 4-2-3-1

1Bridge

34Veltmann29van Hecke5Immerse yourself30Estupinan

13Gross20Baleba

2Lamptey15Mild24Adingra

18Welbeck

• 1Bridge
• 34Veltmann
• 29van HeckeBooked for 71 minutes
• 5Immerse yourself
• 30EstupinanReplaced byBarcoat 90+2'protocol
• 13GrossBooked for 20 minutes
• 20Baleba
• 2LampteyReplaced byGood nightat 70'protocol
• 15MildReplaced byLallanaat 83'protocol
• 24AdingraReplaced byFergusonat 83'protocol
• 18WelbeckBooked for 48 minutes

Substitute

• 3Saint Paul
• 4Webster
• 14Lallana
• 19Barco
• 23Steele
• 28Ferguson
• 31Ansu Fati
• 40Good night
• 48Chouchane

Referee: David Coote

Number of visitors: 60,061

Live text

1. The game ends: Liverpool 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

2. Second half ends, Liverpool 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

3. Attempt failed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) tries with his left foot from the right side of the penalty area, but the ball just misses to the right. Supported by Alexis Mac Allister.

4. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

5. Foul by Cody Gakpo (Liverpool).

6. Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7. Substitution Liverpool. Ryan Gravenberch replaces Dominik Szoboszlai.

8. Attempt failed. Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion) tries with his right foot from the right side of the penalty area, but the ball just misses to the right. Supported by Facundo Buonanotte.

9. Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Valentín Barco replaces Pervis Estupiñán.

10. Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) tries with his right foot from the center of the box, but the shot is saved in the bottom left corner.

11. Substitution Liverpool. Cody Gakpo replaces Luis Diaz.

12. Wataru Endo (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

13. Foul by Wataru Endo (Liverpool).

14. Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

15. Attempt blocked. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)'s left-footed shot from a distance is blocked. Supported by Conor Bradley.

16. Attempt blocked. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)'s right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area is blocked.

17. Attempt failed. Adam Lallana (Brighton and Hove Albion) tries with his right foot from the center of the box, but the ball misses to the left. Supported by Joël Veltman.

18. Handball by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).

19. Attempt failed. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)'s header from an awkward angle from the left goes past the right. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai with a cross from a corner.

20. Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam Lallana replaces Jakub Moder.