Liverpool cut Manchester City’s lead to three points with victory at Brighton and extended their winning run to eight Premier League games.

The Brighton goalkeeper was fortunate not to receive any punishment as he clattered into the Colombian forward, whose celebrations were put on hold as he received treatment following the high challenge.

Mohamed Salah sealed the three points with a second-half penalty awarded after a handball by Yves Bissouma – with the Egypt forward’s 20th strike of the campaign bringing up Liverpool’s 2,000th Premier League goal.

It is a fifth successive defeat for Brighton, for whom Danny Welbeck went closest to scoring with two minutes remaining but Alisson produced a fine save to avoid any late complications.

Liverpool’s victory maintains the pressure on title rivals Manchester City, who travel to Crystal Palace on Monday (20:00 GMT).

Diaz helps Liverpool maintain title push

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called for a response from his players at Amex Stadium, after they advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals despite defeat by Inter Milan on Tuesday, ending a 12-match winning run in all competitions.

They were initially made to work hard in this latest league win, which leaves them in striking range of City with 10 games remaining for both clubs.

The Reds asserted themselves after a threatening opening 10 minutes from the hosts, though they will feel their task could have been made easier as Sanchez escaped even a booking for his collision with Diaz.

Influential January addition Diaz once again impressed with driving runs and relentless pressing, his second goal for the club a just reward for his efforts – and bravery.

Salah, whose future at the club was once again a hot topic this week, was also denied at close range in the first half and hit the post in the second, before being withdrawn due to injury after 65 minutes.

But the 29-year-old’s confidently despatched spot-kick – his 28th goal in all competitions this term – provided breathing space as Brighton produced an albeit fruitless late surge.

A promising season is threatening to unravel for Graham Potter’s side, who have now scored once in six games during a dismal run which has seen their hopes of a top-half finish begin to fade.

While Brighton’s fightback from two goals down to secure a point at Anfield in October could yet prove a crucial detail in an enthralling title race, there were ultimately no such problems on Saturday for quadruple-chasing Liverpool.

Klopp will await City’s response on Monday, with only Arsenal and Watford to come for his side in the league before a meeting with their title rival at Etihad Stadium on 10 April.

Player of the match

DíazLuis Díaz

with an average of 8.83

Brighton & Hove Albion

1. Squad number3Player nameCucurella

   Average rating

   5.27

2. Squad number2Player nameLamptey

   Average rating

   5.26

3. Squad number14Player nameLallana

   Average rating

   5.10

4. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister

   Average rating

   5.08

5. Squad number20Player nameMarch

   Average rating

   5.01

6. Squad number11Player nameTrossard

   Average rating

   4.96

7. Squad number5Player nameDunk

   Average rating

   4.89

8. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck

   Average rating

   4.76

9. Squad number34Player nameVeltman

   Average rating

   4.75

10. Squad number9Player nameMaupay

    Average rating

    4.73

11. Squad number8Player nameBissouma

    Average rating

    4.68

12. Squad number17Player nameAlzate

    Average rating

    4.67

13. Squad number13Player nameGroß

    Average rating

    4.65

14. Squad number1Player nameSánchez

    Average rating

    3.79

Liverpool

1. Squad number23Player nameDíaz

   Average rating

   8.83

2. Squad number32Player nameMatip

   Average rating

   8.24

3. Squad number1Player nameAlisson

   Average rating

   8.22

4. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold

   Average rating

   8.08

5. Squad number4Player namevan Dijk

   Average rating

   8.07

6. Squad number26Player nameRobertson

   Average rating

   8.06

7. Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah

   Average rating

   7.89

8. Squad number3Player nameFabinho

   Average rating

   7.87

9. Squad number10Player nameMané

   Average rating

   7.79

10. Squad number14Player nameHenderson

    Average rating

    7.65

11. Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara

    Average rating

    7.55

12. Squad number8Player nameKeïta

    Average rating

    7.43

13. Squad number7Player nameMilner

    Average rating

    7.39

14. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

    Average rating

    7.37

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