Arne Slot change speaks volumes as 3 Liverpool injuries bite - 5 talking points vs Brighton

Liverpool dropped more points in the Premier League, this time at Brighton. This is what we spotted as Arne Slot's side ran out of ideas in attack thanks to limited options.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

AMEX STADIUM, BRIGHTON // Liverpool missed the chance to make ground on Manchester United in the race for the Champions League places with its latest disappointing showing, this time at Brighton.

After a 15-minute delay due to congestion outside the stadium, Liverpool fell behind early on in the game when Danny Welbeck headed home from close range. Lewis Dunk teed up Milos Kerkez to level, though, with the sides canceling out each other's mistakes and openness at the back.

Welbeck got his second goal of the game to put Brighton ahead and from there, the Reds didn't really look that threatening in attack to turn the tide. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

Liverpool attack blunted

Mohamed Salah has hardly had his best season in a Liverpool shirt — that would be an understatement — but after he played well against Galatasaray midweek, missed penalty aside, it felt like a blow for him to be absent. So it proved.

In his place, in came Cody Gakpo (in terms of the names on the teamsheet, at least). The Dutchman has not been in good form of late, but had to step into the number nine role again when Hugo Ekitike went off early.

The injury to Ekitike is another big problem for Liverpool. The Frenchman has been playing well and with Alexander Isak not yet ready to return, Arne Slot could really do without that issue proving to be too problematic.

Hugo Ekitike was in tears as he was forced off for Liverpool against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

That it was Curtis Jones who came on for Ekitike shows the lack of forward options that Liverpool currently has available, with Salah sidelined too.

There is a break of a couple of weeks now and the extent of all the attacking injuries isn't really known for the time being. If Liverpool comes back from the internationals without Ekitike, Isak and Salah, though, that would harm any team.

As for replacing Ibrahima Konate with Federico Chiesa, it never works and didn't here either. It was as sure a sign as you could want that Liverpool had run out of ideas.

Giorgi Mamardashvili steps in

Alisson Becker is never far away from being injured at the moment, it seems. And that is exactly why Liverpool paid fairly big money for a reliable second-choice goalkeeper in Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Here, Mamardashvili made his sixth appearance in the Premier League (and 13th in all competitions) and while he made a couple of decent saves, his limitations with his feet were also exposed.

The Georgian passed the ball out of play early on before Welbeck scored and looked a little nervy at times. His relationship with the defense in front of him needs work too, but that can only come with game time.

Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili speaks on the Reds Roundtable show, March 2026

Dominik Szoboszlai's best role

Ahead of the international break, it was worth taking a bit of a risk with Jeremie Frimpong. His fitness is being managed, but Liverpool needed someone to allow Dominik Szoboszlai to play in midfield.

Joe Gomez, who has played right-back more often than his first-choice position in the center under Arne Slot, was unable to start. Frimpong was, though he was given a few problems by Yankuba Minteh and didn't have that much of an effect in the final third.

While Frimpong was poor, really, the move for Szoboszlai to stay central was significant. He not only plays better there himself, but also brings more from Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch alongside him.

By hook or by crook, Arne Slot has to find a way of keeping Szoboszlai in that midfield role for the remainder of the campaign (and beyond). It was telling that when Frimpong went off, it was Curtis Jones who dropped back there.

Milos Kerkez celebrates with Dominik Szoboszlai after scoring for Liverpool against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

Brighton takes advantage

A familiar pattern has emerged in recent Liverpool games: a lack of quality from both teams. Here, both the Reds and Brighton wanted to play the 'right' way, but there were errors galore.

Dunk, for instance, teed up Kerkez not long after Mamardashvili had helped spring a Brighton attack. All in all, there were gaps to exploit and spaces to move into because each of the teams looked a little unsure of exactly what it should be doing.

Arsenal, a much more functional and less appealing side to watch, is leading the way in the Premier League. Brighton and Liverpool are better to watch, but need to find the right balance. Brighton got closest on the day.

Latest Champions League slip costly

With Manchester United having dropped points on Friday and Chelsea and Aston Villa only playing later in the weekend, this was the latest in a series of must-win matches for Liverpool.

At some point, while those around the Reds are inconsistent as well, you have to start taking advantage if you are to cement yourself inside the Champions League places.

Arne Slot and his players have spoken numerous times about the importance of getting into the top five spots this season. At that point, the troubles of the campaign can be forgotten, to some degree.

This was the latest reminder that Liverpool has a real fight on its hands to get where it wants to be. Defensively, it struggled. Going forward, it was very limited.