Salah won and converted the penalty for Liverpool's winner
Mohamed Salah's penalty extended Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after a workmanlike display at Brighton.
Jurgen Klopp's side dominated with over 70% possession against their cagey hosts but created little until Salah was felled in the area by Pascal Gross.
The Egyptian duly lashed the spot-kick left-footed across his body and high into the net for a 17th goal of the season.
Brighton briefly rallied, with Fabinho - at the heart of Liverpool's defence for the injured Dejan Lovren - producing a key block to deny Gross in the area.
It helped Liverpool to a gritty win on a day they were far from their fluent best but comfortably lengthened their advantage in the title race, with third-placed Tottenham playing on Sunday and nearest rivals Manchester City not in action until Monday.
'Mature' Reds get job done
Klopp embraced Salah at the final whistle after his side had seen off sporadic bursts of pressure from their hosts in the closing stages.
The threat of a third straight defeat was held at bay after defeat to City and an FA Cup loss at Wolves, and the Reds can still boast being without back-to-back league defeats since September 2015.
At the Amex, they demonstrated the efficiency and control of a side capable of winning while not at their best.
Salah - who had just 13 touches in a quiet first half - produced a single moment of game-defining trickery to tangle with Gross, and it proved enough as Liverpool eased to a 13th clean sheet of the season.
Georginio Wijnaldum flashed a shot wide and Salah missed a glorious chance from six yards after a James Milner pullback, which would have provided late breathing space.
But on a day where the heart of Liverpool's defence was shuffled - with Fabinho joining Virgil van Dijk to cover for injuries - Klopp pointed to an "unbelievably mature" display by his side as they returned to form.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Brighton
27Button
22Montoya
4Duffy
5Dunk
3Bong
20MarchSubstituted forKnockaertat 66'minutes
13GroßSubstituted forKayalat 79'minutes
6Stephens
24Pröpper
9Locadia
17MurraySubstituted forAndoneat 66'minutes
2Bruno
7Kayal
10Andone
11Knockaert
14Balogun
23Steele
41Sanders
Liverpool
13Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold
3Fabinho
4van Dijk
26Robertson
5Wijnaldum
14Henderson
23ShaqiriSubstituted forMilnerat 72'minutes
9Roberto Firmino
10ManéSubstituted forKeitaat 90'minutes
11SalahSubstituted forOrigiat 90+4'minutes
7Milner
8Keita
18Moreno
22Mignolet
27Origi
32Matip
64Camacho
Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
30,682
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamLiverpool
Possession
Home29%
Away71%
Shots
Home7
Away10
Shots on Target
Home0
Away3
Corners
Home2
Away7
Fouls
Home15
Away5
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Liverpool 1.Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Liverpool 1.
Posted at 90'+5'
Hand ball by Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion).SubstitutionPosted at 90'+4'
Substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Mohamed Salah.Posted at 90'+3'
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Lewis Dunk tries a through ball, but Shane Duffy is caught offside.SubstitutionPosted at 90'
Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keita replaces Sadio Mané.Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jürgen Locadia following a set piece situation.Posted at 89'
Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).Posted at 89'
Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by James Milner.Posted at 87'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Shane Duffy.Posted at 87'
Attempt blocked. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.Posted at 84'
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 84'
Foul by Anthony Knockaert (Brighton and Hove Albion).Posted at 83'
Hand ball by Anthony Knockaert (Brighton and Hove Albion).Posted at 81'
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 81'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Salah following a corner.Posted at 79'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Beram Kayal replaces Pascal Groß.Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gaëtan Bong with a cross.Posted at 76'
Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).Posted at 76'
Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.Posted at 74'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Shane Duffy.Posted at 73'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.Posted at 73'
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 73'
Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Xherdan Shaqiri.Posted at 72'
Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 72'
Foul by Florin Andone (Brighton and Hove Albion).Posted at 69'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Sadio Mané.Posted at 68'
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Alisson.Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Jürgen Locadia (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from long range on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gaëtan Bong.SubstitutionPosted at 66'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Florin Andone replaces Glenn Murray.SubstitutionPosted at 66'
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Anthony Knockaert replaces Solly March.Posted at 66'
Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).Posted at 66'
Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 64'
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.Posted at 63'
Hand ball by Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Source: bbc.com
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