3 Things We Learnt From Liverpool 2-2 Brighton

1) The first half was a game of small margins

Brighton could easily have had the lead in the first few minutes of the game. March was in behind Liverpool's backline but he took too long to get his shot away, narrowing his angle and when he did, Alisson saved his effort. Within the next few minutes, Liverpool were ahead via a brilliant shot from the edge of the box by Henderson. Van Dijk played a long ball to Salah who came in and passed it to Henderson who scored in the 4th minute. Then Bissouma had a great chance but his effort was saved by Alisson's fingertips. In the 16th minute, Bobby had a great chance after a slick move between Keita and Salah but he completely fluffed his shot. In the 24th minute, Liverpool went 2-0 up after a brilliant cross from Oxlade Chamberlain for Mane who headed it into the Brighton net. Around 10 minutes later, Liverpool could've been out of sight after Sanchez's howler but ball struck Mane's arm so the goal was denied. Another turning point of the game was in the 41st minute when Mwepu scored a wonder goal as  Brighton got one back from absolutely nothing.

2) Naby Keita shouldn't have been risked 

Being plagued with niggles throughout his Liverpool career, Keita, out of everyone, deserved that bit of luck after he avoided a serious injury from Paul Pogba's cynical challenge on him, last Sunday. It was extremely pleasing to see him back in training on Thursday. However, even the most optimistic Liverpool fans would agree that Brighton would come too soon for him. Even if he was fit, it would have been better for him long term if he didn't start the Brighton game considering his past injury record. Moreover, Liverpool's midfielders are far too injury prone. Harvey Elliot is out for 6 months after his long term injury sustained against Leeds. Thiago hasn't played since the 18th of September. Curtis Jones was also injured and only came back last week before the game against Manchester United. Fabinho who has the best injury record amongst every other midfielder, was and is currently out with a knee problem. Milner sustained a hamstring injury against Manchester United and will probably come back after the international break. Henderson is currently fit but he has also spent lengthy spells on the touchline in recent seasons. So it made no sense to me to risk Naby given the number of midfielders already out injured. He looked nimble as the game began and although, his qualities were on show, he had to be replaced in the 19th minute. 

3) Liverpool looked absolutely shattered in the 2nd half

In the first half, the game could've gone either way but in the second, Brighton were comfortably the better side. Liverpool looked fatigued and were barely hanging on to their lead. But then, in the 65th minute, Brighton equalized through Trossard. He was played in by Lallana as he cut back in and shifted the ball on his right before smashing it past Alisson to make it 2-2. The way the 2nd half unfolded, it was obvious that Liverpool were going to  concede at some point and could even go on to lose the game if they conceded more than once. They did but the Trossard was flagged offside by the linesman. Liverpool failed to create any clear cut chances in the 2nd half and looked completely leggy. Liverpool's midfield were not quick enough to press and when they did, Brighton easily by-passed them to counter-attack. Today's performance was  reminiscent of the performances against  Milan and Atletico in the Champions League: Liverpool steamroll at the beginning but then fail to hold on to their lead, completely lacking any sort of control over the game. These performances are slowly becoming a recurrent theme and Jurgen Klopp must sort it out.