BRIGHTON, England: Danny Welbeck scored late in each half to hand Brighton & Hove Albion a 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle United on Saturday as the 34-year-old rolled back the years with a vintage display of finishing.
Newcastle came into the game having failed to score in any of their away league games so far this season and fell behind when Welbeck put the home side ahead in the 41st minute, latching onto a Georginio Rutter pass and dinking home a beautiful finish.
Brighton almost doubled their lead in the 50th minute as Yankuba Minteh broke down the right and played the ball into the middle, but Yasin Ayari’s attempt was deflected behind for a corner.
Having made two changes at halftime, Newcastle burst into life, but despite plenty of possession in dangerous areas, they continued to struggle to get efforts on target.
They finally got the equalizer in the 76th minute as big summer signing Nick Woltemade scored with a brilliant flicked back-heel from Lewis Miley’s center.
However, Welbeck had other ideas and came to his side’s rescue again, snapping up a loose ball and flashing a shot across Nick Pope and into the Newcastle net in the 84th minute to put his side back in front.
The visitors continued to pour forward but Dan Burn, Woltemade and Harvey Barnes were all unable to convert late chances for Newcastle as the Seagulls held on to win.
The win lifted Brighton above Newcastle and into ninth place on 12 points, while their visitors slipped to 12th in the standings on nine points from eight games.
“It was a very good win and it was very important for us. We’ve had some results where we’ve been pushing and not quite got there,” Welbeck said.
“We’ve been ahead here at home and have not got the three points. It was a test of our character today.”
Substituted late on, Welbeck shrugged off talk of his age and said he would keep going.
“I love it. I have the passion and love for football. It’s what I want to do. I feel good. I feel strong and fit so I won’t be stopping soon,” he said.
With four goals in five Premier League appearances, Woltemade’s arrival at Newcastle has given them a huge boost in the wake of the acrimonious departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, even if they did come up short against Brighton.
“The second half, there was good energy in the game. We scored one goal and it felt like we would win but they played good and scored. That’s football sometimes,” Woltemade said.
Welbeck brace gives Brighton 2-1 win over Newcastle
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Welbeck brace gives Brighton 2-1 win over Newcastle
- Newcastle came into the game having failed to score in any of their away league games so far
- The win lifted Brighton above Newcastle and into ninth place on 12 points
Riyadh stages LIV Golf opener as league navigates change in 2026
- Ben An: Night golf adds character to this event. It’s similar to night racing in F1, so I think it’ll be good for golf too
- Michael La Sasso: Being able to travel the world at such a young age, I couldn’t pass up this experience
RIYADH: The 2026 LIV Golf League gets underway in Riyadh this Wednesday, marking the start of a new season that will see the tour adopt a four-day, 72-hole format for the first time since its launch in 2022.
Despite the structural change, much of the early attention has focused on the departures of high-profile players such as Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, who recently confirmed that he will not return this season. LIV Golf players, however, insist their focus remains firmly on the campaign ahead.
At the league’s pre-season press conference, Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm addressed Reed’s move.
“I wish Patrick Reed nothing but the best,” Rahm said. “Everyone is free to choose wherever they want to play golf.
“He’s been playing fantastic golf, and if he wants to go back (to the PGA Tour), he can choose to do so.”
The opening event in Riyadh will again feature play under the lights — a format that has become one of LIV Golf’s most distinctive traits.
“It’s just a case of getting used to the night golf,” said Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton. Rahm agreed, noting that while the concept was enjoyable, consistently staging events after dark brought its own challenges.
For Tom McKibbin, playing under the lights initially came as a surprise but left a lasting impression during his first appearance in Riyadh last season.
“I don’t think any other golf event has been played in the dark — it was very new for me,” McKibbin said. “But I enjoyed playing under the lights, and it made for a cool first experience.”
Korean Golf Club member Ben An echoed that sentiment, suggesting the format added a new dimension to the sport.
“Night golf adds character to this event,” he said. “It’s similar to night racing in F1, so I think it’ll be good for golf too.”
Beyond the format, several players highlighted the competitive environment and global travel as key reasons for committing to LIV.
“I say this with no disrespect to other tours, but you only face the top players two to three times a year at a major,” said Richard Bland of Cleeks GC. “Here, you get to play against the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau 14 to 15 times a year.”
For younger players, including 21-year-old Michael La Sasso, the international nature of the tour has been a major draw.
“Being able to travel the world at such a young age, I couldn’t pass up this experience,” La Sasso told Arab News. “The amount I’ll be able to learn just by being here — it’s hard to express how cool it really is.
“As a 21-year-old, I get to see different cultures on a regular basis. Even seeing camels in Riyadh this week was pretty cool.”
LIV Golf opens for the second consecutive season under the Riyadh Golf Club lights from Feb. 4 to 7. Adrian Meronk of Cleeks GC returns as defending individual champion after finishing 17 under par last year, while Legion XIII claimed the team title with a total of 50 under par.
The tour moves on just seven days later, with its second event taking place in Adelaide — one of the most anticipated stops on the LIV calendar.
