LONDON: Israeli striker Tomer Hemed’s 51st-minute goal earned Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-0 victory over last season’s Championship sparring partners Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Hemed struck early in the second half at the Amex Stadium to give manager Chris Hughton a first victory over the club he previously managed at the seventh attempt and move Brighton up four places to 13th.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle, who drop down to joint eighth, had pipped Brighton to the Championship (second tier) title by one point on the final day of last season, having beaten them at home and away.

Brighton made most of the first-half running and might have gone ahead earlier had Anthony Knockaert not inadvertently blocked Pascal Gross’s goal-bound shot from Solly March’s left-wing cross.

Newcastle carved out the clearer chances, Joselu dragging agonisingly wide after Ayoze Perez’s cross fell into his path and Perez side-footing over the bar from Chancel Mbemba’s lay-off.

But defensive inattention undid the visitors in the 51st minute as Gross’s free-kick from the left was headed back across goal by Dale Stephens and Hemed hooked a close-range shot into the roof of the net.

It took a goal-line block by Rob Elliot to keep Newcastle in the game, the goalkeeper jutting out his right foot to divert the ball off the line after March slid in to meet Bruno’s drilled cross from the right.

Jonjo Shelvey entered the fray as Newcastle sought an equaliser and the former Liverpool midfielder almost provided one in the 73rd minute with an enterprising corner kick that clanged off the post.In Saturday’s late match, Liverpool overcame their leaky defence to secure a first win in September as Philippe Coutinho starred in a 3-2 win at Leicester City.

Days after being knocked out of the League Cup by Leicester, Liverpool went to King Power Stadium and beat Leicester in an action-packed encounter.

Liverpool won in typically heart-in-the-mouth style when Simon Mignolet comically conceded and then saved a late penalty, which Jamie Vardy fired too close to the Belgian’s body. The spot-kick save was Mignolet’s fifth from his past eight attempts.

Coutinho laid on an assist for Mohamed Salah before curling a stunning free kick into the top corner to put Juergen Klopp’s side in control.

However, Liverpool’s fragile defense was once more exposed as Shinji Okazaki pulled a goal back.

Jordan Henderson restored the Reds’ two-goal advantage but Vardy got Leicester back into contention just a minute later and Liverpool were indebted to Mignolet for saving Vardy’s 73rd-minute penalty.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017