Liverpool came from behind to overcome Brighton 2-1 and take the Premier League lead due to Mohamed Salah’s sensational winner at Anfield on Saturday.
Ferdi Kadioglu’s beautiful shot put the Reds down at halftime, as they deserved.
However, two quick goals from Cody Gakpo and Salah punished Brighton for failing to capitalise on their first-half lead.
Arne Slot’s 13th win in 15 games in charge moves Liverpool two points above of Manchester City, who were downed 2-1 at Bournemouth.
Both teams had changed significantly since Wednesday’s League Cup match, which Liverpool won 3-2.
Despite the Reds welcoming back a plethora of players such as Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Seagulls dominated the first half and should have been out of sight by halftime.
Liverpool’s first clear chance of goal in the first 45 minutes came when Darwin Nunez sprinted from his own half into the Brighton area and saw his effort superbly saved by Bart Verbruggen.
On 14 minutes, Kadioglu opened the scoring with a scorching right-footed shot off the inside post.
Liverpool were again without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to injury, but his backup Caoimhin Kelleher made a crucial save to keep Brighton from increasing their advantage.
Jack Hinshelwood’s magnificent pass split Liverpool’s defence, putting Georginio Rutter in behind Virgil van Dijk, but the Frenchman was unable to beat Kelleher.
Kadioglu missed another good chance to make it 2-0 before Danny Welbeck’s free kick hit the side netting.
Liverpool were forced to make a change at halftime when Ibrahima Konate walked off with his arm in a sling, and Joe Gomez took his place.
The England defender should have made an immediate impact when he headed straight at Verbruggen from an unmarked free kick.
Slot’s half-time team talk had the desired effect, as Liverpool exploded out of the blocks and changed in the second half.
Verbruggen put Alexis MacAllister’s header behind at his near post, and Van Dijk failed to connect when Alexander-Arnold’s cross found him.
Brighton had kept Salah quiet for an hour, but the Egyptian should have punished them when he sprinted onto Nunez’s pass and failed to beat Verbruggen one-on-one.
The home team needed some luck to get the comeback going, as Gakpo’s attempted cross went into the far corner without a touch.
With Anfield in raptures, Slot’s men needed only three minutes to find the winner.
Liverpool broke quickly after Rutter’s missed shot at one end, as Curtis Jones found Salah, who cut inside onto his trusted left foot and hammered into the top corner.
Brighton pushed the hosts back in a nail-biting finish, but Liverpool held on for a crucial three points on a day when title contenders City and Arsenal, who were beaten 1-0 at Newcastle, faltered.