Harvey Elliott applied the finishing touch to a lovely move to put the Premier League champions ahead early on, though that goal was equalised by Yasin Ayari in minute 32.

Dominik Szoboszlai made it 2-1 in favour of the Reds on the stroke of half-time but the Seagulls fought back again in the second period to snatch all three points through a pair of their substitutes.

Kaoru Mitoma levelled proceedings after an hour had been played and Jack Hinshelwood netted an 85th-minute winner with his first touch.

Federico Chiesa made his first start in the Premier League and was one of four changes to the line-up deployed at home to Arsenal.

Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas also came into Arne Slot's line-up.

Alisson, Konate, Szoboszlai (Jones, 63), Salah, Chiesa (Nunez, 63), Gakpo (Diaz, 63), Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Quansah, Bradley (Endo, 77).

Unused subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool's opener could have arrived even earlier than it did, with Cody Gakpo curling just wide inside 60 seconds and then Mohamed Salah forcing a save from Bart Verbruggen.

Their bright start was rewarded with nine minutes on the clock, though, when Elliott nudged home Conor Bradley's cutback.

The full-back raced past two challenges after receiving a lovely flick from Salah, who himself was found by Szoboszlai's sensational crossfield switch.

With that goal, Slot's men became the only side in the club's history to score in every one of their league fixtures on the road in a single campaign.

Bradley was nearly the scorer in the Reds' next attack but was off target with his side-foot, having been slipped in by Chiesa.

Danny Welbeck will have felt he should have drawn Brighton level on the half-hour mark when he got his head to Simon Adingra's delivery, only to nod fractionally wide.

However, the hosts made the most of their next opportunity a few minutes later. Brajan Gruda received Welbeck's lay-off and found the run in behind of Ayari to allow him to stroke a finish past Alisson Becker.

It seemed as if the encounter would enter the break level but a clever free-kick routine saw the visitors restore their lead in the solitary minute of stoppage time.

Elliott opted to pass to Szoboszlai near the right touchline instead of delivering into the box to catch Brighton on their heels, and the No.8 proceeded to strike a looping effort past Verbruggen.

The period began with Alisson impressively denying Welbeck twice and Gruda.

Sandwiched in between those Brighton chances was Salah sweeping wide from six yards out when Gakpo presented him with a golden opportunity.

Liverpool created a trio of openings to establish a two-goal lead – Gakpo, Elliott and Salah going close in quick succession – but would be pegged back again in the 69th minute.

Alisson got down to keep out Welbeck's powerful hit but the rebound was pounced on by Mitoma, who smashed his effort into the ground and into the back of the net not long after being introduced.

With the game remaining extremely open, a winning goal seemed likely – and it went to the home side following a VAR intervention.

Hinshelwood's initial celebrations after tapping in Matt O'Riley's square ball were cut short by the raising of the assistant referee's flag for offside.

A review, however, confirmed the assister had been just shy of the Reds' back line before playing his pass for the decisive moment.