(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sat 21 March 2026 14:43, UK

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Brighton put another dent in Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as they beat them 2-1 on Saturday.

The Seagulls welcomed the Merseysiders to the Amex Stadium in the Premier League’s early kick-off, and they put their visitors on the back foot just 14 minutes in, when Danny Welbeck climbed highest to nod home at the back post.

Milos Kerkez levelled the game for Arne Slot’s side on the half-hour mark, as he raced clear to lob the ball over Bart Verbruggen and restore parity in the game.

The Reds are desperately trying to reel in Manchester United and Aston Villa in the race to qualify for the Champions League next season, but their hopes took another blow when Welbeck turned home his second in the 56th minute.

Liverpool’s latest defeat away at Brighton was their third in their last four league visits to the Amex Stadium, and Football Insider kept a close eye on the performance of referee Darren England during the game.

Yankuba Minteh unfortunate with early yellow card

Yankuba Minteh was the first man into England’s book on Saturday afternoon, when he was cautioned for a late sliding challenge on Cody Gakpo.

The Dutchman had the ball in the Brighton half but was not in a particularly threatening position, although England still deemed his challenge to be sufficient for a caution.

However, Minteh could undoubtedly have counted himself unlucky to go into the book, considering that there was no malice in his tackle, and it was also the first foul that he had made all afternoon.

Had he brought Gakpo down in a more dangerous position, then a yellow card would have been unquestionable, but in reality, the Liverpool man was surrounded by bodies and had little room to work with regardless.

Ibrahima Konate should have seen yellow in first half

Minteh was at the centre of the action throughout the game at the Amex on Saturday, as he also drew two fouls out of the visitors throughout the 90 minutes.

One of those came in the 40th minute, when he burst away from Ibrahima Konate inside the Liverpool half, before he appeared to be dragged back by Konate on the edge of the box.

The Frenchman then played the ball against the winger and out for a goal-kick, and the incident was met with plenty of frustration from the Brighton fans.

Minteh was left fuming with the referee, as he clearly felt that there was little difference between Konate’s challenge and his own that saw him go into the book.

Konate’s challenge came in a much more dangerous area of the field than Minteh’s own caution had been, and as a result, it could certainly be argued that he was lucky to escape a card.

Danny Welbeck unlucky with penalty appeal

Welbeck thought he would be presented with a golden chance to complete his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, when he was felled by Konate inside the Liverpool box.

The centre-back had taken a heavy touch on the ball and turned slowly, allowing the striker to burst alongside him and challenge for the ball.

Konate threw an arm across the body of Welbeck before falling to the ground and appearing to drag the Brighton man down with him, preventing him from getting to the loose ball in the process.

England waved away the appeals and VAR official Stuart Atwell took a similar view after a brief check, but it was certainly the type of moment that has resulted in penalties being given several times before.