Firmino double helps Reds batter Brighton
A stunning counter-attacking Liverpool performance was enough to beat Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday (AEDT) as Roberto Firmino starred.
Roberto Firmino scored twice as Liverpool cruised to a 5-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in an entertaining Premier League contest on the south coast.
The Reds looked to be out of sight when they netted twice in two first-half minutes and then extended their lead further after the break, but Glenn Murray pulled a goal back to threaten a Seagulls fightback.
It never materialised, though, as Jurgen Klopp's men turned on the style in the closing stages.
Brighton has made Amex Stadium somewhat of a fortress this season, previously losing only to Manchester City, but it could not deny Liverpool a victory that was set in motion by Emre Can's 30th-minute opener.
Firmino's first swiftly followed as Brighton struggled to cope with the speed of the visiting attack, with Klopp's side then adding a third through the Brazilian forward again after the restart.
Again there was a second strike in quick succession, but this time it was Brighton's, Murray netting from the penalty spot having twice earlier squandered clear-cut chances.
Murray could have scored again, too, but Liverpool added an extra gloss to proceedings with two late goals, both inspired by Philippe Coutinho, as the Reds moved above Arsenal and into the top four.
Coutinho and Mohamed Salah were among six changes made by visiting boss Klopp from the midweek defeat of Stoke City, including Can and Georginio Wijnaldum in a makeshift three-man defence, largely because of Joel Matip's absence.
Salah was quickly in the thick of an action, dashing down the left to force a corner from which Firmino wastefully nodded over the top.
Brighton's determined early stance contributed to limited attacking opportunities at either end, but Murray might have done better when he turned and blasted off target from inside the area in a rare opening for the home side.
Can broke the hosts' resolve on the half-hour mark, to head home a set-piece from Coutinho, who quickly supplied the second, too.
The hosts were still reeling from the opener as Salah and Coutinho broke on the left and Firmino arrived in the box to meet the latter's centre for a simple yet devastating finish.
The game then seesawed dramatically as the second half set off at a frantic pace, with Simon Mignolet brilliantly denying Murray from close range before Firmino's second followed at the other end.
It was another blistering Liverpool counter-attack and the slaloming Salah teed up Firmino for a simple finish, but the three-goal margin lasted only three minutes.
Referee Graham Scott awarded what appeared to be a soft penalty against Reds captain Jordan Henderson as he tussled with Shane Duffy, allowing Murray to finally find the net from 12 yards.
Mat Ryan smartly prevented Salah from adding his name to the scoresheet with a left-footed effort after Firmino's pass and the Australia goalkeeper was soon tested again by the influential Coutinho.
Murray's snapshot on the turn fizzed wide as Brighton kept pushing, but another flurry late on put a third consecutive away league win beyond doubt for Klopp's men.
Coutinho's magnificent free-kick crept under the wall for the fourth and the Brazilian magician forced the fifth, too, as Lewis Dunk deflected a shot beyond Ryan in the dying seconds.
