Liverpool beat visitors Brighton 2-0 at home in matchday 8 of the Premier League, lifting their tally from 12 to 15 points and rising to fourth place, while Brighton remain frozen on 16 points and stay third only on goal difference ahead of Arsenal.
What changed for the two teams?
Liverpool went into the match three points behind their visitors and came out just one point behind them. The win did not change their position much — from outside the top four to fourth — but it narrowed the gap to the leading places.
Brighton lost three points that would have put them in a better position, but they held on to third place thanks to their goal difference (+16), which is a notable difference compared to their direct rivals.
The top and the gap between the leaders
Manchester City and Arsenal share the lead with 21 points each, and the difference between them is just three goals in goal difference (11 vs 8). Fourth-placed Liverpool are six points off the top, a gap that can be made up with 30 matchdays remaining.
Chelsea in fifth (13 points) are pressing Liverpool, just two points behind, making fourth place unstable.
InfoSports numbers
- Liverpool increased their tally from 12 to 15 points, three points behind Brighton.
- Brighton remained third despite the defeat thanks to a goal difference of +16, the highest among the top eight.
- The gap between the top (21) and fourth place (15) is just six points.
Who else is affected?
Chelsea (13 points) would have been further behind Liverpool had the latter lost, but now find themselves under direct pressure. At the bottom, Nottingham Forest and Coventry City have 6 points each, and Sunderland have 4 points from 7 matches.
Premier League table after matchday 8
- Manchester City — 21 points (8 matches, GD +11)
- Arsenal — 21 points (8 matches, GD +8)
- Brighton — 16 points (8 matches, GD +16)
- Liverpool — 15 points (8 matches, GD +3)
- Chelsea — 13 points (8 matches, GD +2)
- Brentford — 11 points (8 matches, GD +5)
- Newcastle United — 11 points (8 matches, GD -2)
- Aston Villa — 11 points (8 matches, GD -3)
- Nottingham Forest — 6 points (8 matches, GD -4)
- Coventry City — 6 points (8 matches, GD -9)
- Sunderland — 4 points (7 matches, GD -8)
What awaits the two teams?
Liverpool host Chelsea on Wednesday 28 October in a direct clash for fourth place. Brighton visit Manchester City on Saturday 31 October, a tough test against the leaders.
