Liverpool are back on top after Salah completed his comeback win against Brighton | Premier League

From Brighton battered and injured for 48 minutes in the first half, leading the Premier League after 96 minutes: Liverpool's mentality monsters live on. A change in the second half, another great goal from Mohamed Salah's collection and the defeat of their fiercest rivals turned a far from perfect performance into the perfect day for Arne Slot's team.

Salah curled a trademark winner into the top corner of Bart Verbruggen's goal less than three minutes after Cody Gakpo canceled out Ferdi Kadioglu's first-half opener, moving ahead of Robbie Fowler into eighth place on the Premier League's all-time goalscoring list . He has Thierry Henry in his sights next. More importantly, Liverpool's 164th goal of Salah's Premier League career puts them two points ahead of Manchester City and a significant seven points ahead of Arsenal following the defeat at Bournemouth. No one who witnessed the first half will get carried away, but the manner of Liverpool's recent comeback gives me, as Slot put it, “a lot of confidence for the rest of the season”.

But the head coach warned: “We didn’t show ourselves in any part of the game in the first half. We changed a few tactics at half-time, but that had nothing to do with the second half. It was down to the players, who showed a different attitude and intensity. We fought our way back into the game, but I just told them 45 minutes in the first half will be a penalty somewhere.”

Brighton's narrow lead at the break flattered Liverpool enormously. Fabian Hürzeler's team was superior in every respect. A two or three goal lead would have better reflected their dominance. Slow, sloppy and far too casual, Liverpool's performance in the first half played into the hands of a strong opponent. Brighton's central midfield of Jack Hinshelwood and Yasin Ayari outplayed their counterparts Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, as did the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma against Trent Alexander-Arnold. After the break, however, the defender had the upper hand.

Brighton's breakthrough was the epitome of their skill. Ayari passed a pass to Kadioglu, who found Mitoma in free space on the left. The Japan international rolled the ball to Danny Welbeck and although his shot went behind Georginio Rutter, it fell perfectly to Kadioglu, who had continued his run into the box. The Brighton winger fired his first-time shot past Caoimhín Kelleher and into the goal from the inside of the far post.

Rutter should have doubled the lead when a great pass from Ayari played clean to him. The striker was able to fend off Virgil van Dijk well, but directed his shot straight at Kelleher. A routine but crucial save. Kadioglu could have scored his and Brighton's second goal when Mitoma's cross from the byline found him unmarked at the back post, but he volleyed it over the goal.

Slot's problems continued after the half-time whistle when Ibrahima Konaté left the field with his left arm in a sling. The centre-back was replaced by Joe Gomez, who made a big impression. It wasn't the only change Liverpool made. The home team restarted as they had to – they played with more aggression, speed and determination to turn the game around. Brighton, who were almost in full control before half-time, held on well before the bloody collapse.

Gomez had a great chance within seconds but headed Kostas Tsimikas' free kick into Verbruggen. The Brighton keeper made two excellent saves as Liverpool came close to equalizing three times in as many minutes, with Mac Allister and Salah either side of a glaring miss from Van Dijk.

Brighton's goal was ultimately thwarted by an element of luck. Gakpo curled over an inward cross that narrowly missed the head of the impressive Jan Paul van Hecke and Darwin Núñez behind him, before nestling inside the far post. Slot had minutes earlier introduced Curtis Jones and Luis Díaz, who moved to a midfield diamond, and his substitutions were instrumental in blowing the roof off Anfield as Liverpool struck again.

Jones initiated a break from the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, exchanging passes with Díaz before releasing Salah on the right. The Egyptian did what he does best: he cut inside his opponent, in this case Pervis Estupiñán, and curled a stunning, unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner. It was a way up.

Hürzeler said: “The performance was good enough to easily win the game, especially in the first half. In the second half we weren't precise enough, lost the duels and perhaps the atmosphere also affected us. It was loud, wild, but you have to stay calm. In the second half we couldn’t find any solutions and Liverpool’s dominance continued to grow.”