Kevin went from enemy against City to a Friend at Liverpool

Saturday afternoon arrived and once again it was BBC Radio Sussex that gave us the commentary on the game between Liverpool and Brighton at Anfield.

I am sure the more technical of us were able to find time to search for an overseas streaming channel. However, I cannot condone this as it is not a lawful broadcast in the UK.

From the commentators’ input we all tried to picture the scene of an autumnal afternoon with some sunshine on Merseyside. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t quite sure what to think about this game.

I am beginning to find myself getting nervous in matches against the very, very top teams, like Manchester City last week. Of course we are a top team this year, but I am sure some of you will know what I mean.

With the 3pm kick off and batteries checked for the radio, we were off and running. Listeners did not have long to wait for some action, as early doors Leandro Trossard just failed to beat Alisson in the opening few minutes.

Just as you started to think, come on lads, this sounds better than the City game, Jordan Henderson slotted one home to put Liverpool 1-0 up.

Warren Aspinall was upset, not with the goal but that his TV monitor at the ground in the commentary spot had packed up. Johnny Cantor did not have one either, so neither of them could not see the replay.

When I saw it on BBC Match of The Day it looked as if Robert Sanchez was wearing deep sea divers boots, bless him, as he never moved! It was so quick and that is why Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world.

Shortly after, our returning star Yves Bissouma narrowly missed slotting it home in the Liverpool net as he hit the right hand post of Alisson’s goal. So close from Yves – I love it when he has a go from distance.

Being 1-0 down and really not quite settling into the game, of course the next deadly blow came from Sadio Mane who headed past Robert Sanchez to make it 2-0 to Liverpool – and all before we had played even 25 minutes.

That is when we probably all thought, here we go again! Brighton though rallied and our rising prodigy Enoch Mwepu headed over the bar in another near miss for the Albion, so perhaps we were not completely out of it.

The next goal would be crucial and so I turned the volume on the radio up as it was getting exciting. Then like an arrow to the heart, Mane put the ball in the Albion net and it looked like we were 3-0 down and all before half time. Manchester City all over again, I thought to myself.

Oh ye of little faith! Warren commented straight away: “We are not playing netball or basketball are we Johnny, that’s handball.”

The VAR official watching on from Stockley Park for the game against Liverpool was – believe it or not – last week’s referee, Kevin Friend.

Mr Friend was certainly not the Albion’s friend against Manchester City when he officiated that game. He reviewed the Mane goal and ruled that it had struck the Liverpool forward’s hand. This time, Kevin was Brighton’s friend and the score remained Liverpool 2-0 Albion.

Now Brighton had to make the most of that reprieve. I heard the excitement in Johnny’s voice as a promising move began to build.

Solly March slid the ball to Mwepu, who went for goal with a magnificent strike which dropped just behind Allison, under the crossbar and into the net. A world class goal to make it Liverpool 2-1 Brighton. Game on.

We were reminded how close to half time Mwepu had struck when the deepest Liverpudlian voice you have ever heard appeared in the background of the broadcast, telling the spectators in the ground that there were two minutes of added time. Warren Aspinall thought it was a Halloween character on the end of the stadium PA!

There was light at the end of the tunnel for the Albion as they went in for the break only one goal behind when, without Mr Friend, it could have been three.

It was time to take a breath and stick the kettle on. As much as I love BBC Radio Sussex, I really miss not seeing the action live and person.

At the start of the second half, the question was which team were going to make the first impact? It looked like Mo Salah but his great play and goal was flagged offside.

Some tidy footwork from the Albion and a clever back hell to Adam Lallana saw the ex-Liverpool man get a shot on target but it was repelled by Alisson.

Brighton were now coming onto the front foot. An amazing pass by Sanchez started an Albion attack, finding Cucurella. He slid it into Lallana, who fed Trossard to shoot and make it Liverpool 2-2 Brighton at Anfield.

The determination and grit these guys have to fight back from 2-0 down against one of the best teams in the world is quite amazing. And what a strike from Trossard.

Brighton might even have gone onto win. There was a further great chance from Mwepu who narrowly missed slotting home when denied by a good save from Alisson.

Substitute Tariq Lamptey then showed what he was made of and beat several Liverpool players before setting up Trossard. The Belgian again put his effort past Alisson, only to be caught slightly offside.

So the game as we all know gave us a very well deserved point. It was a truly excellent performance by the Albion given the circumstances which the opening 25 minutes left us in.

As I write this now, we are in eighth place in the Premier League after 10 games. Roll on Saturday, when a winless Newcastle United come to the Amex.

It would be a mistake to think of that as a guaranteed three points, however. We should never lose sight of what Graham Potter constantly tells us – that there are no easy games in the Premier League. Up The Albion.