Manchester United climbed back into the top half of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-masterclass-leaves-manchester-city-in-tatters-261238">Premier League</a> table on Sunday, as goals from Andreas Pereira and Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Davy Propper gave the side a 3-1 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

United climbed to seventh place on 16 points from 12 games after stretching their unbeaten home run against the Seagulls to 12 matches in all competitions. Brighton slipped to 11th place on 15 points.

The home side benefited from a fine individual display by Anthony Martial, who set up two goals and ran tirelessly at Brighton's defenders.

Manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-manchester-uniteds-attacking-trio-gives-solskjaer-reason-for-optimism-260729">Ole Gunnar Solskjaer</a> praised the Frenchman alongside 19-year-old left back Brandon Williams.

"Anthony Martial did not get a goal but he was outstanding," Solskjaer told the BBC.

"Brandon Williams was excellent too, he has had some good games already and he seems he wants to be out there and enjoy himself.

"We should have scored many more goals. It was an excellent performance from the lads, when you see them going forward it is a joy to watch."

Pereira fired United ahead in the 17th minute with a fortuitous goal, as his shot from inside the penalty area took a heavy deflection off Dale Stephens and left Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan stranded.

Pereira initially lost control of the ball as he raced forward before Martial unselfishly teed up the rebound for the Brazilian to hit a left-foot shot.

Propper then bundled the ball into his own net two minutes later as an inswinging free kick from Fred caused havoc in Brighton's six-yard box. The goal was awarded after a VAR check.

Lewis Dunk pulled one back for Brighton in the 64th minute with a close-range header, but Rashford restored United's two-goal advantage two minutes later when he blasted in a shot from 12 metres off the underside of the bar.

Again the goal resulted from good work by Martial, who beat a defender and Ryan to the ball before squaring it back for Rashford from a tight angle.

United missed several chances in the closing stages to win by a bigger margin, with Rashford guilty of two glaring misses while Ryan pulled off some superb saves.

The match ended on a sour note for United midfielder Scott McTominay, who limped off injured moments before the final whistle after an innocuous-looking duel.

Manchester United climbed back into the top half of the Premier League table on Sunday, as goals from Andreas Pereira and Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Davy Propper gave the side a 3-1 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Manchester United climbed back into the top half of the Premier League table on Sunday, as goals from Andreas Pereira and Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Davy Propper gave the side a 3-1 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion. United climbed to seventh place on 16 points from 12 games after stretching their unbeaten home run against the Seagulls to 12 matches in all competitions. Brighton slipped to 11th place on 15 points. The home side benefited from a fine individual display by Anthony Martial, who set up two goals and ran tirelessly at Brighton's defenders. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised the Frenchman alongside 19-year-old left back Brandon Williams. "Anthony Martial did not get a goal but he was outstanding," Solskjaer told the BBC. "Brandon Williams was excellent too, he has had some good games already and he seems he wants to be out there and enjoy himself. "We should have scored many more goals. It was an excellent performance from the lads, when you see them going forward it is a joy to watch." Pereira fired United ahead in the 17th minute with a fortuitous goal, as his shot from inside the penalty area took a heavy deflection off Dale Stephens and left Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan stranded. Pereira initially lost control of the ball as he raced forward before Martial unselfishly teed up the rebound for the Brazilian to hit a left-foot shot. Propper then bundled the ball into his own net two minutes later as an inswinging free kick from Fred caused havoc in Brighton's six-yard box. The goal was awarded after a VAR check. Lewis Dunk pulled one back for Brighton in the 64th minute with a close-range header, but Rashford restored United's two-goal advantage two minutes later when he blasted in a shot from 12 metres off the underside of the bar. Again the goal resulted from good work by Martial, who beat a defender and Ryan to the ball before squaring it back for Rashford from a tight angle. United missed several chances in the closing stages to win by a bigger margin, with Rashford guilty of two glaring misses while Ryan pulled off some superb saves. The match ended on a sour note for United midfielder Scott McTominay, who limped off injured moments before the final whistle after an innocuous-looking duel.

Premier League: Manchester United earn 3-1 win over Brighton

Manchester United manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-manchester-uniteds-attacking-trio-gives-solskjaer-reason-for-optimism-260729">Ole Gunnar Solskjaer </a>said his players produced their best all-round display of the season as they powered past Brighton &amp; Hove Albion 3-1 to move up to seventh in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-masterclass-leaves-manchester-city-in-tatters-261238">Premier League</a>.

Midfielder Andreas Pereira and striker Marcus Rashford scored either side of a Davy Propper own goal on Sunday to hand United their biggest home league win since the opening weekend of the campaign in August.

There was a sense of optimism at Old Trafford as United continued to attack late in the second half to extend their lead, with Fred, Anthony Martial and Rashford testing Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

"I think it's our best performance of the season," Solskjaer told reporters. "How we didn't end up with five, six, or seven we don't know, but exhilarating and entertaining and great to see the boys enjoy themselves."

United's front three of Rashford, Martial and Daniel James showed electric pace on counter-attacks but Solskjaer reserved special praise for 19-year-old left back Brandon Williams, who was impressive in his first league start.

Solskjaer selected Williams ahead of experienced Argentine international Marcos Rojo in the starting lineup, and said that it will be difficult not to pick him again.

"Brandon was excellent. He's played well before, but first start at Old Trafford in a Premier League game, you don't know how he's going to react," Solskjaer added.

"He's done nothing wrong since he's come in and making it hard for me (to leave him out), definitely."

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his players produced their best all-round display of the season as they powered past Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 to move up to seventh in the Premier League.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his players produced their best all-round display of the season as they powered past Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 to move up to seventh in the Premier League. Midfielder Andreas Pereira and striker Marcus Rashford scored either side of a Davy Propper own goal on Sunday to hand United their biggest home league win since the opening weekend of the campaign in August. There was a sense of optimism at Old Trafford as United continued to attack late in the second half to extend their lead, with Fred, Anthony Martial and Rashford testing Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan. "I think it's our best performance of the season," Solskjaer told reporters. "How we didn't end up with five, six, or seven we don't know, but exhilarating and entertaining and great to see the boys enjoy themselves." United's front three of Rashford, Martial and Daniel James showed electric pace on counter-attacks but Solskjaer reserved special praise for 19-year-old left back Brandon Williams, who was impressive in his first league start. Solskjaer selected Williams ahead of experienced Argentine international Marcos Rojo in the starting lineup, and said that it will be difficult not to pick him again. "Brandon was excellent. He's played well before, but first start at Old Trafford in a Premier League game, you don't know how he's going to react," Solskjaer added. "He's done nothing wrong since he's come in and making it hard for me (to leave him out), definitely."

Solskjaer hails Manchester United's best performance of season against Brighton

Brighton &amp; Hove Albion have signed centre back Adam Webster on a four-year deal from Championship side Bristol City in a club-record deal, the Premier League team said on Saturday.

Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported Brighton paid 20 million pounds ($24.31 million) to sign the 24-year-old defender.

"Adam is a player the club has been aware of for sometime, and someone we came up against last season at Swansea City," said new Brighton boss Graham Potter, who joined the south-coast club from Welsh side Swansea in May.

"He is a quality defender, comfortable on the ball, fits the profile of the type of player we want to bring to the club, and he was very keen to join us.

"He is still relatively young, but has good experience from the number of games he has played. Predominantly a centre-half, he can also play at right-back, and he will bring additional competition alongside our existing defensive options."

Webster played 44 league games for City last season, including 43 starts, and scored three goals.

The club's previous record deal was the 17 million pounds paid for Iran forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh last year.

Brighton, who escaped relegation last season when they finished 17th, begin the new campaign at Watford on Aug. 10.

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed centre back Adam Webster on a four-year deal from Championship side Bristol City in a club-record deal, the Premier League team said on Saturday.

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed centre back Adam Webster on a four-year deal from Championship side Bristol City in a club-record deal, the Premier League team said on Saturday. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported Brighton paid 20 million pounds ($24.31 million) to sign the 24-year-old defender. "Adam is a player the club has been aware of for sometime, and someone we came up against last season at Swansea City," said new Brighton boss Graham Potter, who joined the south-coast club from Welsh side Swansea in May. "He is a quality defender, comfortable on the ball, fits the profile of the type of player we want to bring to the club, and he was very keen to join us. "He is still relatively young, but has good experience from the number of games he has played. Predominantly a centre-half, he can also play at right-back, and he will bring additional competition alongside our existing defensive options." Webster played 44 league games for City last season, including 43 starts, and scored three goals. The club's previous record deal was the 17 million pounds paid for Iran forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh last year. Brighton, who escaped relegation last season when they finished 17th, begin the new campaign at Watford on Aug. 10.

Brighton sign defender Adam Webster from Bristol City in club-record deal

Arsenal's hopes of claiming a Champions League place via a top-four finish are all but over after Unai Emery's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton &amp; Hove Albion on Sunday.

Needing victory to keep their top-four chances realistically alive after Chelsea had earlier beaten Watford, Arsenal got the perfect start when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after Alireza Jahanbakhsh impeded Nacho Monreal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made no mistake with the penalty to notch up his 20th league goal of the season.

There was a nervousness about Arsenal, however, and Brighton grew into the game, with the threat of relegation removed by Cardiff City's defeat on Saturday.

The visitors were level in the 61st minute when the dangerous Solly March made a strong goalwards run and Granit Xhaka was panicked into conceding a penalty that Murray converted.

In an end-to-end climax both teams went close to scoring but the final whistle was met with stunned silence by the Emirates crowd.

With one game left, Arsenal are four points adrift of third-placed Chelsea and three behind Tottenham Hotspur, whose goal difference is eight better than the Gunners.

Arsenal's hopes of claiming a Champions League place via a top-four finish are all but over after Unai Emery's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Arsenal's hopes of claiming a Champions League place via a top-four finish are all but over after Unai Emery's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. Needing victory to keep their top-four chances realistically alive after Chelsea had earlier beaten Watford, Arsenal got the perfect start when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after Alireza Jahanbakhsh impeded Nacho Monreal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made no mistake with the penalty to notch up his 20th league goal of the season. There was a nervousness about Arsenal, however, and Brighton grew into the game, with the threat of relegation removed by Cardiff City's defeat on Saturday. The visitors were level in the 61st minute when the dangerous Solly March made a strong goalwards run and Granit Xhaka was panicked into conceding a penalty that Murray converted. In an end-to-end climax both teams went close to scoring but the final whistle was met with stunned silence by the Emirates crowd. With one game left, Arsenal are four points adrift of third-placed Chelsea and three behind Tottenham Hotspur, whose goal difference is eight better than the Gunners.

Champions League: Arsenal top-four hopes all but over after Brighton draw

Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton &amp; Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half.

Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, they were on course for a repeat after taking a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Eden Hazard set up the first goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and scored the second himself before halftime following a defensive error.

Brighton came back into contention through Solly March's goal midway through the second half and Lewis Dunk went close to an equaliser.

The home side have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since 1933 but they stayed 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three places.

Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten at Southampton.

Hazard, who had been outstanding when scoring twice in the 4-0 January win, made the opening goal with his ninth assist of the season.

Regaining possession after his shot was saved, he played a perfect pass to give Pedro a tap-in.

Brighton contributed to their own downfall 12 minutes from halftime with a poor clearance by Leon Balogun.

Willian intercepted and from his own half sent Hazard through to beat goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

From a position of apparent comfort, Chelsea came under pressure after Marcos Alonso had crashed a shot against the post.

The home team revived, halving their deficit when Bernardo headed back across goal for March to score, but Chelsea held on for an important win.

"We knew we needed to score a third goal, but we didn't and conceded," Hazard said. "You feel the pressure, but we managed the game well.

"We want to be top of the league at the end of the season. We know Man City and Liverpool are good teams and we don't want the gap to be big."

Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half.

Chelsea consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday that became harder work than had seemed likely in the first half. Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, they were on course for a repeat after taking a 2-0 lead at the interval. Eden Hazard set up the first goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and scored the second himself before halftime following a defensive error. Brighton came back into contention through Solly March's goal midway through the second half and Lewis Dunk went close to an equaliser. The home side have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since 1933 but they stayed 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three places. Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten at Southampton. Hazard, who had been outstanding when scoring twice in the 4-0 January win, made the opening goal with his ninth assist of the season. Regaining possession after his shot was saved, he played a perfect pass to give Pedro a tap-in. Brighton contributed to their own downfall 12 minutes from halftime with a poor clearance by Leon Balogun. Willian intercepted and from his own half sent Hazard through to beat goalkeeper Mat Ryan. From a position of apparent comfort, Chelsea came under pressure after Marcos Alonso had crashed a shot against the post. The home team revived, halving their deficit when Bernardo headed back across goal for March to score, but Chelsea held on for an important win. "We knew we needed to score a third goal, but we didn't and conceded," Hazard said. "You feel the pressure, but we managed the game well. "We want to be top of the league at the end of the season. We know Man City and Liverpool are good teams and we don't want the gap to be big."

Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot

Burnley earned a badly-needed three points to move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Brighton &amp; Hove Albion on Saturday.

On a rainy, windy afternoon at Turf Moor, nothing was going to wipe away the smiles of manager Sean Dyche and the Burnley fans as James Tarkowski's goal late in the first half proved decisive.

"I think it is a bit of relief, and enjoyment," Dyche, whose side had lost their last three fixtures at Turf Moor while conceding nine goals, told the BBC.

"It was a hard-earned and hard-fought win. We never thought it would come from being free-flowing. We thought we would have to dig in and we have done that today."

Though the goal was credited to Tarkowski, it was Jack Cork who was responsible for the 40th-minute breakthrough when his shot deflected off the England defender's midriff into the net.

It was a scruffy goal but Dyche was not complaining.

"A goal is a goal. When you find wins and clean sheets hard to come by, 1-0 is a very pleasing result," he said.

"Performances have been suggesting we were getting back to that hardy edge we know we have got. We created chances but it wasn't about that. It was about fight and spirit. We know we can get better but sometimes you've got to grind."

The goal was only what Burnley deserved, though, after they took control in the second part of the opening period with Chris Wood and Robbie Brady, who had also volleyed narrowly over, forcing fine saves from Mat Ryan.

Burnley also felt they should have earned a second-half penalty when Yves Bissouma's extravagant bicycle kick in his own box caught Phil Bardsley.

Yet on a special day for Burnley's Joe Hart, who was making his 400th league appearance in English football, the former England goalkeeper proved his quality as the home side held on under increasingly severe pressure.

Brighton's manager Chris Hughton, whose side lie 11th in the table, felt the Seagulls deserved more.

"I thought we were the better side. I thought we had the better chances in the game," he said.

Burnley earned a badly-needed three points to move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. On a rainy, windy afternoon at Turf Moor, nothing was going to wipe away the smiles of manager Sean Dyche and the Burnley fans as James Tarkowski's goal late in the first half proved decisive.

Burnley earned a badly-needed three points to move out of the Premier League relegation zone with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. On a rainy, windy afternoon at Turf Moor, nothing was going to wipe away the smiles of manager Sean Dyche and the Burnley fans as James Tarkowski's goal late in the first half proved decisive. "I think it is a bit of relief, and enjoyment," Dyche, whose side had lost their last three fixtures at Turf Moor while conceding nine goals, told the BBC. "It was a hard-earned and hard-fought win. We never thought it would come from being free-flowing. We thought we would have to dig in and we have done that today." Though the goal was credited to Tarkowski, it was Jack Cork who was responsible for the 40th-minute breakthrough when his shot deflected off the England defender's midriff into the net. It was a scruffy goal but Dyche was not complaining. "A goal is a goal. When you find wins and clean sheets hard to come by, 1-0 is a very pleasing result," he said. "Performances have been suggesting we were getting back to that hardy edge we know we have got. We created chances but it wasn't about that. It was about fight and spirit. We know we can get better but sometimes you've got to grind." The goal was only what Burnley deserved, though, after they took control in the second part of the opening period with Chris Wood and Robbie Brady, who had also volleyed narrowly over, forcing fine saves from Mat Ryan. Burnley also felt they should have earned a second-half penalty when Yves Bissouma's extravagant bicycle kick in his own box caught Phil Bardsley. Yet on a special day for Burnley's Joe Hart, who was making his 400th league appearance in English football, the former England goalkeeper proved his quality as the home side held on under increasingly severe pressure. Brighton's manager Chris Hughton, whose side lie 11th in the table, felt the Seagulls deserved more. "I thought we were the better side. I thought we had the better chances in the game," he said.

Burnley out of relegation zone with win over Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion's top-scorer Glenn Murray is a doubt for Saturday's Premier League trip to Burnley due to a shoulder injury, manager Chris Hughton said on Thursday.

Murray scored his eighth goal of the season with a penalty in Brighton's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday but the 35-year-old sustained the injury in a fall and was substituted in the first half.

"We'll assess Glenn in the morning -- today it wasn't as bad as we thought -- we'll give him every opportunity to be fit," Hughton told a news conference.

"He went over on his shoulder but it's not dislocated. It's a bit sore but better than what it could have been."

Murray's replacement Florin Andone also scored in the win over Palace and the Romanian forward is expected to lead the line again on Saturday.

Winger Jose Izquierdo could also miss the game at Turf Moor with a knee problem while defender Shane Duffy is suspended after picking up a red card in the last game.

Brighton are 10th in the table with 21 points while Burnley are second from bottom on nine points.

Brighton and Hove Albion's top-scorer Glenn Murray is a doubt for Saturday's Premier League trip to Burnley due to a shoulder injury, manager Chris Hughton said on Thursday.

Brighton and Hove Albion's top-scorer Glenn Murray is a doubt for Saturday's Premier League trip to Burnley due to a shoulder injury, manager Chris Hughton said on Thursday. Murray scored his eighth goal of the season with a penalty in Brighton's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday but the 35-year-old sustained the injury in a fall and was substituted in the first half. "We'll assess Glenn in the morning -- today it wasn't as bad as we thought -- we'll give him every opportunity to be fit," Hughton told a news conference. "He went over on his shoulder but it's not dislocated. It's a bit sore but better than what it could have been." Murray's replacement Florin Andone also scored in the win over Palace and the Romanian forward is expected to lead the line again on Saturday. Winger Jose Izquierdo could also miss the game at Turf Moor with a knee problem while defender Shane Duffy is suspended after picking up a red card in the last game. Brighton are 10th in the table with 21 points while Burnley are second from bottom on nine points.

Brighton's Murray an injury doubt for Burnley trip

Newcastle United were left to rue a host of missed chances as a deflected goal from Beram Kayal gave Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-0 Premier League win at St. James's Park on Saturday.

The defeat, Newcastle's seventh in nine league games this season, left them bottom of the standings with two points. Brighton are 12th with 11 points.

Brighton lost Glenn Murray early on after he appeared to be knocked unconscious in a nasty clash of heads with Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez. The striker was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Jurgen Locadia.

Play resumed after a lengthy stoppage and the visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when Shane Duffy headed a corner back to Jose Izquierdo and his shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the net by Beram Kayal.

Newcastle should have drawn level at the break but Yoshinori Muto sent his header over the bar from point-blank range after Jonjo Shelvey's shot was parried.

Newcastle desperately searched for a second-half equaliser but their efforts were in vain and they slumped to a third league defeat in a row.

"This is the reality," Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez sighed in a post-match TV interview.

"So many games, people were talking about 'you don't have the possession.' We have the possession, shots and corners, free kicks, everything, and we didn't score," the 58-year-old said.

"It's difficult to complain when the team is working so hard and doing what they have to do in a lot of things, but still we have to be more precise and more clinical when we have chances," Benitez added.

Newcastle United were left to rue a host of missed chances as a deflected goal from Beram Kayal gave Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-0 Premier League win at St. James's Park on Saturday.

Newcastle United were left to rue a host of missed chances as a deflected goal from Beram Kayal gave Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-0 Premier League win at St. James's Park on Saturday. The defeat, Newcastle's seventh in nine league games this season, left them bottom of the standings with two points. Brighton are 12th with 11 points. Brighton lost Glenn Murray early on after he appeared to be knocked unconscious in a nasty clash of heads with Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez. The striker was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Jurgen Locadia. Play resumed after a lengthy stoppage and the visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when Shane Duffy headed a corner back to Jose Izquierdo and his shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the net by Beram Kayal. Newcastle should have drawn level at the break but Yoshinori Muto sent his header over the bar from point-blank range after Jonjo Shelvey's shot was parried. Newcastle desperately searched for a second-half equaliser but their efforts were in vain and they slumped to a third league defeat in a row. "This is the reality," Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez sighed in a post-match TV interview. "So many games, people were talking about 'you don't have the possession.' We have the possession, shots and corners, free kicks, everything, and we didn't score," the 58-year-old said. "It's difficult to complain when the team is working so hard and doing what they have to do in a lot of things, but still we have to be more precise and more clinical when we have chances," Benitez added.

Newcastle rue poor finishing in 1-0 Brighton defeat

German midfielder Pascal Gross has extended his contract with Brighton and Hove Albion until 2022, the Premier League club has said.

Gross, who joined Brighton from Ingolstadt last July, was instrumental in the club retaining their top-flight status last season, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in 38 league appearances.

"We are delighted that Pascal has agreed to a new contract with the club," manager Chris Hughton told Brighton's website. "He has enjoyed an excellent first season with us in the Premier League, and we are really pleased with the impact he has made."

The 26-year-old's exploits earned him Brighton's player of the year award at the end of the campaign.

The 26-year-old's exploits earned him Brighton's player of the year award at the end of the campaign

German midfielder Pascal Gross has extended his contract with Brighton and Hove Albion until 2022, the Premier League club has said. Gross, who joined Brighton from Ingolstadt last July, was instrumental in the club retaining their top-flight status last season, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in 38 league appearances. "We are delighted that Pascal has agreed to a new contract with the club," manager Chris Hughton told Brighton's website. "He has enjoyed an excellent first season with us in the Premier League, and we are really pleased with the impact he has made." The 26-year-old's exploits earned him Brighton's player of the year award at the end of the campaign.

Midfielder Pascal Gross extends Brighton contract till 2022

Mohamed&nbspSalah's clinical first-half strike against Brighton helped confirm Liverpool's presence in the Champions League next term, and also saw the Egyptian break the record for most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season.

Brighton had no answers at a sun-kissed Anfield as&nbspSalah's sensational form continued with him scoring his 32nd league goal of the campaign.

Dejan Lovren and maiden Liverpool goals for Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson ensured there was no final day collapse against an already safe Brighton side that simply could not cope with Liverpool's attack.&nbsp

Before kick-off Jurgen Klopp's men had to forget about trying to win the Champions League in favour of just qualifying for the competition next season.

Upcoming events in Kiev were, understandably, on everybody's minds at Anfield, but a victory over Brighton was the immediate priority before focusing on the Champions League final against Real Madrid on May 26.&nbsp

Liverpool had stumbled on the domestic front in recent weeks as their European adventure took its toll, allowing Chelsea an outside chance of pipping them to fourth in the table.

But it was the brilliantly entertaining football showcased by Liverpool throughout most of the season that was on show as&nbspSalah&nbspalso grabbed the golden boot for the Premier League's top scorer.

Brighton were fortunate to survive two early penalty shouts as firstly Shane Duffy handled a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross before the Irishman clattered into&nbspSalah.

Brighton goalkeeper Matthew Ryan was then finally brought into action as he stood up well to block a close-range Sadio Mane effort.

Those missed opportunities raised Anfield's volume by several notches, but the stadium remained anxious until&nbspSalah&nbspbroke the deadlock after 26 minutes.

Salah&nbsppounced on a loose ball inside the area to comfortably beat Ryan and claim his 45th goal of the season overall. The finish also put him one goal ahead of Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez who had all previously scored 31 in a 38-game Premier League season.&nbsp

Salah&nbspshould have had even more when, moments after his first, Mane ran through clear on goal and unselfishly squared for his team-mate but Ryan made a brave block before watching the rebound cleared off the line.&nbsp

Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino then both wasted a glorious opportunity apiece before Lovren showed the attackers how to do it, rising highest in a crammed penalty area to nod past Ryan and kill the contest off after just 40 minutes.&nbsp

With Chelsea also losing 3-0 at Newcastle, the second-half had a more processional feel to it, helped enormously by Solanke's stunning finish after 53 minutes when he rifled into the roof of the net to open his Liverpool account.&nbsp

Liverpool remained on the front foot and Ryan did well to deny Firmino as he looked to cap off another hard-working afternoon with a goal.

Robertson did get his first goal for the club by staying calm to thrash home a loose ball six minutes from time to add even more gloss to an afternoon of total dominance.&nbsp

One European adventure for Liverpool is now guaranteed for next season all attention now turns to a far bigger one fast approaching on the horizon.

Mohamed Salah's clinical first-half strike against Brighton helped confirm Liverpool's presence in the Champions League next term

Mohamed&nbspSalah's clinical first-half strike against Brighton helped confirm Liverpool's presence in the Champions League next term, and also saw the Egyptian break the record for most goals scored in a 38-game Premier League season. Brighton had no answers at a sun-kissed Anfield as&nbspSalah's sensational form continued with him scoring his 32nd league goal of the campaign. Dejan Lovren and maiden Liverpool goals for Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson ensured there was no final day collapse against an already safe Brighton side that simply could not cope with Liverpool's attack. Before kick-off Jurgen Klopp's men had to forget about trying to win the Champions League in favour of just qualifying for the competition next season. Upcoming events in Kiev were, understandably, on everybody's minds at Anfield, but a victory over Brighton was the immediate priority before focusing on the Champions League final against Real Madrid on May 26. Liverpool had stumbled on the domestic front in recent weeks as their European adventure took its toll, allowing Chelsea an outside chance of pipping them to fourth in the table. But it was the brilliantly entertaining football showcased by Liverpool throughout most of the season that was on show as&nbspSalah&nbspalso grabbed the golden boot for the Premier League's top scorer. Brighton were fortunate to survive two early penalty shouts as firstly Shane Duffy handled a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross before the Irishman clattered into&nbspSalah. Brighton goalkeeper Matthew Ryan was then finally brought into action as he stood up well to block a close-range Sadio Mane effort. Those missed opportunities raised Anfield's volume by several notches, but the stadium remained anxious until&nbspSalah&nbspbroke the deadlock after 26 minutes. Salah&nbsppounced on a loose ball inside the area to comfortably beat Ryan and claim his 45th goal of the season overall. The finish also put him one goal ahead of Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez who had all previously scored 31 in a 38-game Premier League season. Salah&nbspshould have had even more when, moments after his first, Mane ran through clear on goal and unselfishly squared for his team-mate but Ryan made a brave block before watching the rebound cleared off the line. Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino then both wasted a glorious opportunity apiece before Lovren showed the attackers how to do it, rising highest in a crammed penalty area to nod past Ryan and kill the contest off after just 40 minutes. With Chelsea also losing 3-0 at Newcastle, the second-half had a more processional feel to it, helped enormously by Solanke's stunning finish after 53 minutes when he rifled into the roof of the net to open his Liverpool account. Liverpool remained on the front foot and Ryan did well to deny Firmino as he looked to cap off another hard-working afternoon with a goal. Robertson did get his first goal for the club by staying calm to thrash home a loose ball six minutes from time to add even more gloss to an afternoon of total dominance. One European adventure for Liverpool is now guaranteed for next season all attention now turns to a far bigger one fast approaching on the horizon.

Salah guides Liverpool into next season's Champions League

Arsene Wenger said Arsenal must recover quickly if they are to avoid suffering a fifth successive defeat when they visit AC Milan in the Europa League this week.

The under-fire Gunners manager accepted winning the competition marks his side&#39;s best hope of returning to the Champions League next season after a 2-1 defeat at Brighton left Arsenal 13 points adrift of the Premier League&#39;s top four.

But Wenger warned the effects of the London club`s recent schedule that included back-to-back 3-0 losses to Manchester City in the League Cup final and the league, had taken their toll on his players.

Wenger gave fatigue as the reason he opted to leave Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck out of his starting line-up at south coast club Brighton&#39;s Amex Stadium and the veteran manager is hoping his decision means he can call on fresh legs at the San Siro.

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&quot;Couldn&#39;t have been placed better&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoalOfTheDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoalOfTheDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialBHAFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialBHAFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/n9GHoSmham">pic.twitter.com/n9GHoSmham</a>
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&quot;It is important to recover mentally and physically, we are still jaded today, we gave a lot on Thursday night (against Manchester City) and you can see that today,&quot; he said after Sunday`s latest setback.

&quot;We have to continue, first to recover now. We play Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Sunday... it&#39;s nearly physically impossible to play this number of games.

&quot;The veteran French boss, who took charge at Arsenal in 1996, added: &quot;I left Ramsey out completely of the squad, left him at home, after everything he gave physically. We have to be realistic, we need two teams to collapse to qualify for the Champions League, and I don`t see that happening.

&quot;Two teams to drop so many points is very difficult to imagine. But we have to give our best as long as we can, and the Europa League becomes important.&quot;

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Chris Hughton is only the 3rd manager to beat Arsene Wenger in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PL</a> with three different clubs (after Mark Hughes &amp; Sam Allardyce)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BHAARS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BHAARS</a> <a href="https://t.co/t5y8caNm4j">pic.twitter.com/t5y8caNm4j</a>
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First-half goals from Brighton`s Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray put Chris Hughton&#39;s side in control, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replying for Arsenal.

Wenger admitted his side&#39;s confidence is low after a woeful run that has brought eight defeats since the turn of the year and he said he did not wish to add to that problem by criticising the display against Brighton.

&quot;It&#39;s difficult for me to get into any negative assessment,&quot; he explained. &quot;The team needs more support at the moment. Tough objective judgement as well.&quot;

Wenger, in a somewhat bizarre analogy more befitting the occasional ramblings of compatriot Eric Cantona, the former Manchester United star, added: &quot;When you struggle for confidence, it&#39;s difficult as well when you have just the trousers on... It&#39;s easy to take the trousers off as well, but when you are naked completely you have to try and find a shirt and get dressed properly again.&quot;

Defeat intensified the pressure on Wenger but he insisted he had more immediate concerns.

&quot;At the moment, my future is not my main worry. My worry is to get Arsenal winning football games. Then we&#39;ll see where we go from there. I`ll try and give my best as long as I am here.&quot;

Brighton is now seven points clear of the bottom three and manager Hughton said: &quot;It&#39;s relieved a bit of the pressure of having to get a result. It&#39;s a nice position to be in.

&quot;Hopefully it will create some confidence. This group are working that hard, giving themselves every chance.&quot;

Hughton added: &quot;But we`re all professionals around here and, come tomorrow, our thoughts have to be in the next game -- can we get more points to make it even more comforting?&nbsp;&quot;As soon as you take your foot off the pedal, there are too many good teams around who can knock you down again.&quot;

&nbsp;

The under-fire Gunners manager accepted winning the competition marks his side's best hope of returning to the Champions League next season

Arsene Wenger said Arsenal must recover quickly if they are to avoid suffering a fifth successive defeat when they visit AC Milan in the Europa League this week. The under-fire Gunners manager accepted winning the competition marks his side's best hope of returning to the Champions League next season after a 2-1 defeat at Brighton left Arsenal 13 points adrift of the Premier League's top four. But Wenger warned the effects of the London club`s recent schedule that included back-to-back 3-0 losses to Manchester City in the League Cup final and the league, had taken their toll on his players. Wenger gave fatigue as the reason he opted to leave Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck out of his starting line-up at south coast club Brighton's Amex Stadium and the veteran manager is hoping his decision means he can call on fresh legs at the San Siro. "Couldn't have been placed better"#GoalOfTheDay @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/n9GHoSmham — Premier League (@premierleague) March 4, 2018 × "It is important to recover mentally and physically, we are still jaded today, we gave a lot on Thursday night (against Manchester City) and you can see that today," he said after Sunday`s latest setback. "We have to continue, first to recover now. We play Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Sunday... it's nearly physically impossible to play this number of games. "The veteran French boss, who took charge at Arsenal in 1996, added: "I left Ramsey out completely of the squad, left him at home, after everything he gave physically. We have to be realistic, we need two teams to collapse to qualify for the Champions League, and I don`t see that happening. "Two teams to drop so many points is very difficult to imagine. But we have to give our best as long as we can, and the Europa League becomes important." Chris Hughton is only the 3rd manager to beat Arsene Wenger in the #PL with three different clubs (after Mark Hughes & Sam Allardyce)#BHAARS pic.twitter.com/t5y8caNm4j — Premier League (@premierleague) March 4, 2018 × First-half goals from Brighton`s Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray put Chris Hughton's side in control, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replying for Arsenal. Wenger admitted his side's confidence is low after a woeful run that has brought eight defeats since the turn of the year and he said he did not wish to add to that problem by criticising the display against Brighton. "It's difficult for me to get into any negative assessment," he explained. "The team needs more support at the moment. Tough objective judgement as well." Wenger, in a somewhat bizarre analogy more befitting the occasional ramblings of compatriot Eric Cantona, the former Manchester United star, added: "When you struggle for confidence, it's difficult as well when you have just the trousers on... It's easy to take the trousers off as well, but when you are naked completely you have to try and find a shirt and get dressed properly again." Defeat intensified the pressure on Wenger but he insisted he had more immediate concerns. "At the moment, my future is not my main worry. My worry is to get Arsenal winning football games. Then we'll see where we go from there. I`ll try and give my best as long as I am here." Brighton is now seven points clear of the bottom three and manager Hughton said: "It's relieved a bit of the pressure of having to get a result. It's a nice position to be in. "Hopefully it will create some confidence. This group are working that hard, giving themselves every chance." Hughton added: "But we`re all professionals around here and, come tomorrow, our thoughts have to be in the next game -- can we get more points to make it even more comforting? "As soon as you take your foot off the pedal, there are too many good teams around who can knock you down again."

Arsene Wenger wary of Milan as Arsenal try to snap losing run

Mohamed Salah was inevitably on the scoresheet as Liverpool took full advantage of the inactivity of their top-four rivals to thrash West Ham United 4-1 at Anfield and provisionally move into second in the Premier League.

With leaders, Manchester City facing Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday, when Manchester United host Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace in the league, Juergen Klopp&#39;s free scorers topped 100 goals for the season in their 40th match.

Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also netted in another Liverpool goal rush that moved them 15 points behind Pep Guardiola&#39;s City.

At the bottom of the table, the future of West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew looks increasingly bleak after their 2-1 defeat at home to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town.

Swansea City crashed 4-1 at Brighton &amp; Hove Albion and Bournemouth came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United.

Liverpool&#39;s win was not quite as routine as the scoreline suggested with West Ham occasionally threatening on another nerve-tingling Anfield afternoon although David Moyes&#39; long wait for a first win at the ground continues.

Salah scored for the sixth successive game in all competitions and his goal took him level with Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 23 this season.

But Can was equally influential in Liverpool&#39;s win, heading the opener and laying on a superb through pass for Firmino to score Liverpool&#39;s third before Mane chipped in with a fourth goal in two games.

&quot;It is difficult to be top, Manchester City is too far away, but of course we want to finish second,&quot; said the German, whose six league goals represent the best haul of his Liverpool career which could be in its final season as his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Pressure on Padrew

Elsewhere, West Brom&#39;s defeat will add to the pressure on manager Pardew whose side are now seven points off safety. Rajiv van La Parra and Steve Mounie scored for Huddersfield, whose win moved them three points up the table, one point ahead of Newcastle.

Rafa Benitez&#39;s side looked to be guaranteed back-to-back victories for the first time since September after Dwight Gayle ended his recent goal drought by scoring twice before the interval.

Yet Adam Smith and former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling completed an astonishing comeback by one of the league&#39;s never-say-die specialists.

&quot;It&#39;s another point that nudges us towards where we want to be -- everyone could be vital at the end of the season,&quot; said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Swansea also scored late at Brighton but Lewis Dunk&#39;s own goal proved academic with the home side already 3-0 up. Dutchman Juergen Locadia&#39;s goal on his Premier League debut completed the rout.

Swansea drops back into the relegation zone just ahead of Stoke City, who drew 1-1 with Leicester City.

It would have been better for Paul Lambert&#39;s side had keeper Jack Butland not parried the ball into his own net when under no obvious pressure, a howler made all the more embarrassing by the presence of former Stoke, Leicester and England legend Peter Shilton in the stands.

Manager Lambert refused to criticise his keeper, whom he described as &quot;the best in Britain&quot; although such an obvious howler will do little to help Butland secure the England jersey for the World Cup.

At Turf Moor, Southampton&#39;s Manolo Gabbiadini scored a 90th-minute equaliser as the visitors secured a nerve-jangling 1-1 draw at Burnley, who still await their first win of the year.

Watford was due to play Everton in Saturday&#39;s late kickoff.

Swansea City crashed 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United

Mohamed Salah was inevitably on the scoresheet as Liverpool took full advantage of the inactivity of their top-four rivals to thrash West Ham United 4-1 at Anfield and provisionally move into second in the Premier League. With leaders, Manchester City facing Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday, when Manchester United host Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace in the league, Juergen Klopp's free scorers topped 100 goals for the season in their 40th match. Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also netted in another Liverpool goal rush that moved them 15 points behind Pep Guardiola's City. At the bottom of the table, the future of West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew looks increasingly bleak after their 2-1 defeat at home to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town. Swansea City crashed 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United. Liverpool's win was not quite as routine as the scoreline suggested with West Ham occasionally threatening on another nerve-tingling Anfield afternoon although David Moyes' long wait for a first win at the ground continues. Salah scored for the sixth successive game in all competitions and his goal took him level with Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 23 this season. But Can was equally influential in Liverpool's win, heading the opener and laying on a superb through pass for Firmino to score Liverpool's third before Mane chipped in with a fourth goal in two games. "It is difficult to be top, Manchester City is too far away, but of course we want to finish second," said the German, whose six league goals represent the best haul of his Liverpool career which could be in its final season as his contract expires at the end of the campaign. Pressure on Padrew Elsewhere, West Brom's defeat will add to the pressure on manager Pardew whose side are now seven points off safety. Rajiv van La Parra and Steve Mounie scored for Huddersfield, whose win moved them three points up the table, one point ahead of Newcastle. Rafa Benitez's side looked to be guaranteed back-to-back victories for the first time since September after Dwight Gayle ended his recent goal drought by scoring twice before the interval. Yet Adam Smith and former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling completed an astonishing comeback by one of the league's never-say-die specialists. "It's another point that nudges us towards where we want to be -- everyone could be vital at the end of the season," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. Swansea also scored late at Brighton but Lewis Dunk's own goal proved academic with the home side already 3-0 up. Dutchman Juergen Locadia's goal on his Premier League debut completed the rout. Swansea drops back into the relegation zone just ahead of Stoke City, who drew 1-1 with Leicester City. It would have been better for Paul Lambert's side had keeper Jack Butland not parried the ball into his own net when under no obvious pressure, a howler made all the more embarrassing by the presence of former Stoke, Leicester and England legend Peter Shilton in the stands. Manager Lambert refused to criticise his keeper, whom he described as "the best in Britain" although such an obvious howler will do little to help Butland secure the England jersey for the World Cup. At Turf Moor, Southampton's Manolo Gabbiadini scored a 90th-minute equaliser as the visitors secured a nerve-jangling 1-1 draw at Burnley, who still await their first win of the year. Watford was due to play Everton in Saturday's late kickoff.

EPL: Salah scores again as Liverpool thrash West Ham

Antonio Conte insists the battle for a top-four finish is providing Chelsea with all the motivation they need, even if Premier League leaders Manchester City out of reach.

Conte&#39;s side recovered from the disappointment of a pre-Christmas draw at Everton by beating Brighton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point of second-placed Manchester United.

With City on a record-breaking run of victories, Blues boss Conte admits there appears to be little chance of closing the gap.

But the Italian insisted last season&#39;s champions are still motivated.

&quot;I think in this league there is a great motivation for all. To try, I repeat, to stay there and to fight until the end,&quot; he said.

&quot;I don&#39;t know if it will win the title. It depends upon Manchester City. They are doing something extraordinary to win every game and draw only once up to now. That means you&#39;re having a fantastic run.

&quot;Otherwise, Chelsea, United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool would be staying there to fight. We fight for a place in the Champions League next season.

&quot;There are four places for six top teams. Last season, Manchester United and Arsenal finished fifth and sixth, no?. There is this great motivation for me, for the players, and we want to try and improve.

&quot;Our start wasn&#39;t easy this season, for many reasons. But we want to work and improve. There are many competitions.&nbsp;It&#39;s important to face every competition and be very proud to play every game.&quot;

Alvaro Morata headed Chelsea ahead immediately after half-time and Marcos Alonso added the second on the hour at Stamford Bridge.

&quot;Today it was positive to score for Alvaro,&quot; said Conte. &quot;He&#39;s our No9. Against Everton, he didn&#39;t play.&nbsp;Also, Alonso, to score five goals up to now, for a wing-back, is a great achievement.&nbsp;

&quot;But it&#39;s important to continue. Not to stop scoring. We need this alternative from our strikers.&quot;

Conte wants to strengthen his squad in January and expressed his admiration for Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal after being questioned about reports linking the Chile midfielder with a move to Chelsea.

&quot;I must be honest, it&#39;s not right to talk about a player of another team,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Especially if you try to link this player with us. Arturo is a fantastic player, I have a great respect for Arturo, and we spent many years in Juventus together. I&#39;d always want him with me.&quot;

Brighton manager Chris Hughton also responded to reports claiming Albion have agreed a fee for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele.

&quot;I&#39;ve heard reports. As manager of this football club, I&#39;m quite sure I&#39;d know. There&#39;s been no contact between the two clubs,&quot; he said.

Albion remains close to mid-table our a solid run following last season&#39;s promotion and Hughton added: &quot;I want them to feel proud of where we are and what we&#39;ve achieved so far, but frustrated because we could have done better.

&quot;Would we have been happy at the start of the season to be in the position we are in now? The answer would be yes. But we could have done better.&nbsp;

&quot;If anything, in the second half of the season, it won&#39;t get any easier. It will get harder, if anything.&quot;

Conte's side recovered from the disappointment of a pre-Christmas draw at Everton by beating Brighton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point of second-placed Manchester United

Antonio Conte insists the battle for a top-four finish is providing Chelsea with all the motivation they need, even if Premier League leaders Manchester City out of reach. Conte's side recovered from the disappointment of a pre-Christmas draw at Everton by beating Brighton 2-0 on Tuesday to move within a point of second-placed Manchester United. With City on a record-breaking run of victories, Blues boss Conte admits there appears to be little chance of closing the gap. But the Italian insisted last season's champions are still motivated. "I think in this league there is a great motivation for all. To try, I repeat, to stay there and to fight until the end," he said. "I don't know if it will win the title. It depends upon Manchester City. They are doing something extraordinary to win every game and draw only once up to now. That means you're having a fantastic run. "Otherwise, Chelsea, United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool would be staying there to fight. We fight for a place in the Champions League next season. "There are four places for six top teams. Last season, Manchester United and Arsenal finished fifth and sixth, no?. There is this great motivation for me, for the players, and we want to try and improve. "Our start wasn't easy this season, for many reasons. But we want to work and improve. There are many competitions. It's important to face every competition and be very proud to play every game." Alvaro Morata headed Chelsea ahead immediately after half-time and Marcos Alonso added the second on the hour at Stamford Bridge. "Today it was positive to score for Alvaro," said Conte. "He's our No9. Against Everton, he didn't play. Also, Alonso, to score five goals up to now, for a wing-back, is a great achievement. "But it's important to continue. Not to stop scoring. We need this alternative from our strikers." Conte wants to strengthen his squad in January and expressed his admiration for Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal after being questioned about reports linking the Chile midfielder with a move to Chelsea. "I must be honest, it's not right to talk about a player of another team,” he said. "Especially if you try to link this player with us. Arturo is a fantastic player, I have a great respect for Arturo, and we spent many years in Juventus together. I'd always want him with me." Brighton manager Chris Hughton also responded to reports claiming Albion have agreed a fee for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele. "I've heard reports. As manager of this football club, I'm quite sure I'd know. There's been no contact between the two clubs," he said. Albion remains close to mid-table our a solid run following last season's promotion and Hughton added: "I want them to feel proud of where we are and what we've achieved so far, but frustrated because we could have done better. "Would we have been happy at the start of the season to be in the position we are in now? The answer would be yes. But we could have done better. "If anything, in the second half of the season, it won't get any easier. It will get harder, if anything."

Chelsea still have plenty to achieve, says Conte

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