Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Isak and Groß own goal end unbeaten run

Alexander Isak scored for a third Premier League game in a row as Liverpool beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday. A Pascal Groß own goal and Isak's volley four minutes later gave Andoni Iraola's side their first home league win of the season and ended Brighton's nine-match unbeaten run.

Match facts

• Result: Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (half-time 2-0)
• Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 8
• Venue: Anfield, Liverpool (kick-off 14:00 UK)
• Scorers: Liverpool - Groß 17' (own goal), Isak 21'; Brighton - none
• Red cards: none
• Next: Liverpool v Chelsea (Carabao Cup), Wednesday 28 October, 20:00 UK; Manchester City v Brighton (Carabao Cup), Wednesday 28 October, 19:30 UK

How the match unfolded

Brighton lost defender Ferdi Kadıoğlu to injury in the sixth minute, with Costinha replacing him. Cody Gakpo forced the first save from Bart Verbruggen, and Yasin Ayari should have put the visitors ahead when he blazed over from Groß's cut-back in the 14th minute.

Liverpool led three minutes later. Ronald Araujo's cross was only half-cleared, and Florian Wirtz's low shot, which was heading wide, went in off Groß. Wirtz was first credited with the goal before it was given as an own goal.

The second came in the 21st minute. Bradley Barcola blocked Olivier Boscagli's attempted clearance, chased the loose ball down the right and pulled it back for Isak, who volleyed in with his left foot from close range.

Brighton almost hit back in the 36th minute when Liverpool gave the ball away from a goal-kick and Ayari curled a shot against the post. Verbruggen kept the gap at two by turning away a powerful drive from Araujo before half-time, and Boscagli was booked in stoppage time.

Fabian Hürzeler replaced Boscagli with Jack Hinshelwood at the break and lost Chema Andrés to injury in the 54th minute. Wirtz also went off injured, replaced by Trey Nyoni in the 65th minute. Brighton pushed more players forward, and Charalampos Kostoulas shot narrowly wide from close range after a pass from substitute Georginio Rutter, but Liverpool held on for a clean sheet.

What it means

The win was Liverpool's fourth in a row in all competitions since their 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City, and their second straight league victory after the 2-1 win at Brentford. It took them up to fourth on 15 points, one behind third-placed Brighton. Isak now has six league goals this season, second only to Erling Haaland's nine.

"Today, especially the performance was really good against a really good team," Isak told Sky Sports. "The first half is what we want to be about: winning balls and the intensity."

Brighton suffered their first league defeat since a 4-3 loss at Chelsea on 30 August, and the goals were the first they had conceded in the league since drawing 1-1 with Leeds on 5 September. The visitors had come in on a strong run that included a 3-0 home win over Arsenal.

"It was a missed opportunity," Hürzeler told Brighton's official website. "I think in the end we made two easy mistakes so they could score two goals."

What's next

Brighton face Manchester City twice at the Etihad in four days, in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and in the Premier League on Saturday 31 October at 15:00 UK. Liverpool host Chelsea in the Carabao Cup before welcoming Arsenal to Anfield in the league on Sunday 1 November at 16:30 UK.

Follow BetAlert: Telegram · WhatsApp · Discord — and check any betting account for free at BetAlert.