CHAMPS TO CHUMPS

BRIGHTON’S Jack Hinshelwood sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool on Monday to leave the Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title.

Arne Slot’s span took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalised at the Amex Stadium.

Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before the interval, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma levelled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch.

Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching pak of Tottenham on 27 April.

The Reds have lost at Brighton and Chelsea, and squandered a two-goal lead in a draw with Arsenal since their record-equalling 20th English crown was confirmed. 

They can now look forward to receiving the Premier League trophy in Sunday’s season finale against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Anfield before an open-top bus parade through the city 24 hours later.

Of their Brighton defeat, Slot says: “Great game of football but not the result we wanted.

“If you don’t score the third goal then it’s hard to win at this level, especially away from home. We cannot miss chances like we did if you want to win... ”

Slot had admitted that motivating the champions for the final two matches of the season was a tricky task and his fears were confirmed by this sloppy display.

Slot’s manne had a celebratory trip to Dubai last week and only returned to training last Friday, while the Reds boss was seen partying in Ibiza for several days, as they soaked in a title victory secured in April.

Slot said with a laugh in reply to a question about how focused he had been on the Brighton game: “Did you see me on social media?”