With a dominant 3-0 victory, Brighton overcame the absence of wanted-away star Leandro Trossard to deal another blow to Liverpool's sputtering season. Solly March scored twice. After March's quick-fire double early in the second period set Albion on track for a huge victory, substitute Danny Welbeck sealed the outcome.
When outplayed at the Amex Stadium by Jurgen Klopp's astonished visitors, who had no response, the Seagulls were able to overtake them and go up to seventh place.
Before a statement from his agency highlighted his intention to leave Sussex, Trossard's dismissal by head coach Roberto De Zerbi owing to his attitude dominated pre-game discussion on the south coast.
But Brighton showed that even without the Belgian attacker, they are still capable of producing their brilliant best as they destroyed the Reds on a spectacular afternoon.
With only 18 games remaining in the season, the defending Premier League winners from 2020 have already dropped a startling 26 points. Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino, and Luis Diaz were already on the injury list for the Seagulls when Darwin Nunez of Liverpool also missed the match.
The Reds were spooked from the start by De Zerbi's team, who benefited from slick passing, intense play, and a willingness to take chances when in control.
With influential World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister controlling play in midfield, Seagulls left winger Kaoru Mitoma frequently presented issues for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Mac Allister of Argentina, who received a standing ovation before his first start since returning from Qatar, made an early threat with a header from a Pascal Gross corner after Alexander-Arnold blocked March's potentially dangerous cross-shot.
In a first half in which they failed to record a shot on goal, the undermanned visitors struggled to establish themselves and were limited to opportunities on the counterattack.
Cody Gakpo, making his Premier League debut, nearly outran a defender before having a shot blocked, while Mohamed Salah's demands for a penalty were denied after a challenge from Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Albion maintained control of the game while being encouraged by the home crowd. Mitoma once again burst past Alexander-Arnold but dragged wide.
Four minutes before halftime, Brighton believed they had found their breakthrough, but VAR overruled the penalty because March was offside before Alisson pulled him down. The frenzied atmosphere in Albion was calmed by the second period's quick start.
The lively Mitoma was able to run past Alexander-Arnold and produce a low cross for the unmarked March to score in the 46th minute after Liverpool lost control outside of their own penalty area.
Seven minutes later, after being slipped in by Evan Ferguson, March increased the lead for Klopp's team with a superb finish into the right corner from just within the 18-yard box.
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