Liverpool halted Brighton’s four-match Premier League winning run with a measured 2-0 victory at Anfield, giving Andoni Iraola his first league win at the ground since taking charge of the Reds.
Iraola had already overseen Liverpool in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, but the domestic result at Anfield had been slower in arriving. It came against a Brighton side who had made themselves one of the early-season stories in England and arrived with what looked close to their strongest available team.
Ronald Araújo again operated at right-back for Liverpool, with Bradley Barcola selected on the right of the attack rather than Víctor Muñoz or Ngumoha. Cody Gakpo took up the role on the left. Brighton paired Chema Andrés with Pascal Gross in midfield, although their afternoon was disrupted early when Ferdi Kadioglu was forced off injured.
Liverpool find their edge after Brighton start sharply
Brighton did not arrive merely to admire the stands. Chema Andrés regularly dropped between the centre-backs to receive possession facing play, tempting Liverpool’s forwards to press. The visitors moved the ball with the confidence that has underpinned their rise this season.
Before 15 minutes had passed, a neat move down the right gave Ayari a clear opening inside the box. With Alisson beaten, the Brighton player lifted his effort over the bar. It was the warning Liverpool needed.
The opener followed shortly afterwards from a Liverpool throw-in. Araújo won his duel on the right and pulled the ball back into the area. Gross could not clear cleanly and Florian Wirtz reacted to finish, scoring his first goal of the campaign. The former Bayer Leverkusen man has been finding form in recent weeks, and this was another useful sign.
With the lead in place, Liverpool pressed Brighton hard and began to take control. Bart Verbruggen produced an important save from Gakpo’s angled shot, but Brighton could not hold out for long. Barcola drove past Boscagli and supplied Alexander Isak, who made it 2-0 with his sixth Premier League goal since becoming Liverpool’s record signing.
Brighton still had their moments before the interval. Jacquet and Araújo both made blocks when needed, while Ayari struck the woodwork from distance after Chema Andrés won the ball high up the pitch. Liverpool went in two goals up, but not without having been made to work for it.
Brighton lose Chema Andrés as Liverpool shut the door
Brighton’s task became more difficult early in the second half when Chema Andrés picked up an injury and had to leave the field. Fabian Hürzeler reshaped his side by moving Ayari deeper and placing Yalcouyé behind Kostoulas.
Wirtz also departed soon afterwards, receiving warm applause from the Anfield crowd, but Liverpool had already established the platform for the afternoon. Brighton continued to search for a route back into the contest without ever quite creating the opening required.
Alisson was not called upon to make a save after the break. Araújo was particularly commanding as Liverpool protected their advantage, producing a third clean sheet of the Premier League season.
The result lifts Liverpool into the Champions League positions, while Brighton remain among those places despite seeing their winning sequence ended on Merseyside.
