The start of something special? Photos from Liverpool 3-3 Brighton
One day we might look back on these photos from Liverpool 3-3 Brighton as being the start of a very special time to be an Albion fan. The Roberto De Zerbi Era is here and it promises to be a lot of fun.
De Zerbi made his debut in the Brighton dugout at Anfield. Not a venue where many teams go and attempt an all-out attacking strategy.
The new Albion head coach is seemingly not like many other managers, however. The Seagulls were on the front foot from the first whistle, catching Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool by complete surprise.
Leandro Trossard had Brighton 2-0 up inside of 15 minutes. The Reds were lucky it was not five. Danny Welbeck squandered a free header and was then denied by Alisson, who also saved with his legs from Trossard.
At one point, De Zerbi was waving his three central defenders higher up the pitch. They ended up 20 yards inside the Liverpool half, ready and willing to join the attack. This was football, but not as we knew it.
Being so focussed on scoring at one end of course left gaps at the other. The Reds were able to exploit those, rallying from 2-0 down to take a 3-2 lead midway through the second half.
Roberto Firmino scored twice before Robert Sanchez made a right mess of a cross, completely missing the ball is it cannoned onto the back of Adam Webster and into the now-unguarded net for an own goal.
The Albion then had to show a different characteristic – fight. Falling behind after leading 2-0 at Anfield would normally leave a side dead and buried.
Brighton though came roaring back. A stunning passing move started at one end by Webster swept towards the Kop, where Trossard applied the finishing touch from a Karou Mitoma cross.
De Zerbi danced a little jig in the technical area. Albion fans celebrated in the Merseyside sunshine. Strap yourselves in, this is going to be quite the ride.
If you have any photos you would like included in our Liverpool 3-3 Brighton gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
