BRIGHTON, UK – A tale of two cousins unfolded in dramatic fashion as Brighton & Hove Albion secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool on Monday, May 19, 2025, with substitute Jack Hinshelwood netting a late winner just moments after entering the pitch alongside his debuting teenage cousin, Henry Howell.
The champions, Liverpool, who had already secured the Premier League title with four games to spare, were given a guard of honour by the Brighton players as they took to the field. However, their recent celebratory period has seen a downturn in results, as they have now picked up only two points from their subsequent three matches, becoming the first team in the Premier League era to not win any of their next three fixtures in the same campaign after being crowned champions.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted to give opportunities to fringe players, handing Federico Chiesa his first Premier League start since his move from Juventus. Stalwart defender Virgil van Dijk, who had played every minute of the league season prior, was rested on the bench. This meant Mohamed Salah, making his 400th appearance for the club, captained Liverpool for the first time in a Premier League encounter.
Salah, who is chasing the Premier League-era record for goal contributions in a single season (currently 47, held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole from 42-game seasons), had a golden opportunity to extend Liverpool’s 2-1 lead. However, the Egyptian star shot wide from eight yards in a central position, a miss that would prove costly.
The defining moment of the match arrived in the 84th minute when 20-year-old Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood was substituted on alongside his 17-year-old cousin, winger Henry Howell. For Howell, it was a landmark occasion as he became Brighton’s youngest-ever Premier League player.
The family connection immediately bore fruit. Just a minute after their introduction, Hinshelwood found himself in the right place to score what would be the winning goal – the fourth quickest goal by a substitute in the Premier League this season. Howell was the first to congratulate his cousin, though celebrations were momentarily paused as the offside flag was raised. A tense VAR check ensued, ultimately overturning the on-field decision and awarding the goal, sending the home fans into raptures.
The result marks a memorable victory for Brighton and a continued surprising slump for the newly-crowned champions, who will be looking to rediscover their winning form in their remaining fixtures.
