Danny Welbeck double downs Liverpool as injury woes grow - 5 talking points

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Liverpool's Champions League push suffered a massive blow after losing 2-1 to Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

After a delay to kick-off, Brighton took advantage of a slow Liverpool start to open the scoring through Danny Welbeck . Milos Kerkez levelled for the Reds as he took advantage of a woeful Lewis Dunk mistake.

Welbeck then scored a second to see the home side reclaim the lead. Defeat leaves Liverpool fifth but with a gap now potentially set to grow between them and the top four.

Brighton in the meantime rise to eighth and just six points behind Liverpool. Here are all of the talking points from the Amex Stadium:

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Heading into the game, Liverpool were already feeling the pinch when it comes to injuries. Goalkeeper Alisson was forced to sit out in place of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

There was then another blow as Mohamed Salah was omitted from the squad entirely. A hat-trick of injuries was then confirmed just moments into the first half, with Hugo Ekitike taken off after a heavy collision with James Milner.

Slot will certainly be thinking that the international break has come at the right time for his side.

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Danny Welbeck might have felt himself unfortunate to have missed out on a spot in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad . And he underlined the point that he should have been included with two goals against Liverpool.

A deep ball into the box was headed across goal by Diego Gomez. Welbeck then outjumped Konate and nodded beyond the reach of Mamardashvili for the first.

He then found himself in acres of space to tap home from another centre in the second half, albeit he was made to wait by a tight offside call. His brace saw Welbeck move ahead as the highest-scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool eventually found a way back into the game thanks to an inexplicable error. Defender Dunk attempted to nod a Liverpool clearance back to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Unfortunately for the Brighton man, Kerkez was lurking behind him. The Hungarian latched onto the ball and lofted it over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Brighton will be relieved that it didn't cost them but it was certainly a moment of madness.

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Given Mamardashvili has been Liverpool's back-up keeper this season, the Georgian performed admirably at Brighton. He made a clutch of important saves throughout the game to ensure the Reds still had a chance heading into the closing stages.

His opposite number Vergbruggen also shone, having also provided a host of impressive stops.

It was of course an entertaining game at the Amex anyway but it might have been even more thrilling had it not been for two impresive outings from the respective goalkeepers.

It looked as though Mamardashvili would have to be the hero for Liverpool once again in the closing stages. As Brighton pressed for a third, they forced Konate into a tangle and he presented the ball to Welbeck.

In an attempt to get the ball back, the Frenchman seemingly nudged the striker over. But the referee was not forthcoming in offering a penalty - and neither was VAR.