Steven Alzate claims winner as Albion beat Liverpool

Steven Alzate was credited with the 56th-minute goal to secure a 1-0 success at Anfield.

But there were starring roles right through the team, not least at the back or recalled wing-back Dan Burn.

Albion made two changes to their XI as the two reported doubts ahead of the game - Alexis Mac Allister and Joel Veltman – were absent.

Burn and Alzate came into the side, which meant Solly March operating at right wing-back. Burn took the corresponding left-sided role Young goalkeeper Tom McGill joined Christian Walton on a subs bench which also included Polish defender Michal Karbownik and under-23s midfielder Jensen Weir.

Liverpool were without first choice keeper Alisson, who was unwell. Caoimhin Kelleher stepped in.

Sadio Mane was ruled out along with longer-term absentees at the back.

Earlier results added pressure for Liverpool as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 win at Burnley.

They had also slipped behind Leicester, who were 2-0 winners at Fulham.

That Turf Moor result gave Albion the incentive of overhauling the Clarets, who they visit on Saturday.

The Seagulls also kicked off with a seven-point lead over the drop zone intact after events at Craven Cottage.

Their rejigged defence was almost exposed very early on.

Mo Salah got in behind left wing-back Burn easily as Jordan Henderson angled a pass over the top but he lobbed tamely over.

When the Reds looked to thread Salah in again, Adam Webster set the tone for his hugely impressive evening as he moved across to cover well.

On the other flank, March got into some decent positions going forward as Albion enjoyed some possession playing towards the Kop.

The visitors might have gone ahead on 25 minutes. Maupay did well initially to stay onside and then wriggled into the box, where his shot was blocked.

Burn had made up a lot of ground to be alongside the Frenchman.

But, when the ball span to him, he scooped over with his less-favoured right foot.

Albion were again compact and hard-working in defence.

When they got the ball away on one occasion, Leandro Trossard’s trickery led to him being fouled by Andy Robertson and Pascal Gross curled in a free-kick which Ben White headed over from some way out.

Patient build-up then saw March cut inside and curl a shot over from the edge of the box after a move which went from left to right.

Albion had no answer to the soaring Virgil Van Dijk at set-pieces when they lost narrowly at Anfield last season.

But they enjoyed the height advantage his time when defending such situations.

Georginio Wijnaldum was first to go into the book after he caught Maupay just before half-time.

The Frenchman then got on the end of a Gross cross and headed well over in the final seconds of the half.

As it was, Albion could be pleased with their opening 45 minutes.

Once Salah had lobbed his early opening over, Burn’s chance was the best either side enjoyed in the first half.

Liverpool made a bright start to the second half and Lewis Dunk had to block two shots in quick succession as Roberto Firmino showed off his footwork in a congested penalty area beneath the Kop.

Then Bissouma got back to deflect a Firmino shot wide.

But, when Albion got forward, they moved ahead. More excellent passing led to March crossing from the right.

Burn, again a long way forward, headed the ball back across goal and it appeared Alzate propelled it into the net although it might have flicked off Trossard.

Liverpool sent on Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a double switch and Albion quickly responded by introducing former Anfield hero Adam Lallana as March went off with a knee injury.

The hosts might have levelled when Salah fired off target from a low cross.

But Albion almost doubled their lead on 75 minutes.

Kelleher got down low to his left to claw away a Gross shot and White was just beaten to the rebound.

POTTER PRAISES SENSATIONAL SEAGULLS

The keeper blocked well from Trossard as Albion looked the more likely side to score.

There was pressure of sorts still to soak up, of couse.

But, when Robert Sanchez came a long way to pluck a corner out of the sky, the famous win was complete.

Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Phillips, Robertson; Milner, Wijnaldum (Oxlade-Chamberlain 64), Thiago; Salah, Firmino (Jones 79), Shaqiri (Origi 64). Subs: Adrian, Tsimikas, Davies, R.Williams, Cain, N.Williams.

Yellow card: Wijnaldum (45) foul.

Albion: Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Burn; White, Bissouma, Alzate, March (Lallana 67); Gross, Trossard (Zeqiri 87), Maupay (Connolly 83). Subs: Walton, McGill, Karbownik, Moder, Tau, Weir.

Goal: Alzate 56.

Referee: Kevin Friend.