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Alexander Isak continued his impressive goalscoring form by netting his sixth Premier League goal of the season and scoring in his third consecutive league match for Liverpool.
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Liverpool made a flying start to the encounter as Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 17th minute with an effort that deflected off Pascal Gross before Isak doubled their advantage just four minutes later.
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Liverpool moved up to fourth on the Premier League table after recording their first home league victory of the season and extending their winning run in all competitions to four matches.
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Brighton endured their second loss in 13 matches across all competitions this season, while Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola praised his team’s improved start, defensive organisation and Isak’s goalscoring form.
October 25, (THEWILL) – Alexander Isak scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season to lead Liverpool to a 2-0 win over Brighton at Anfield on Sunday.
It was their first home win of the season in the Premier League.
Brighton’s Yasin Ayari missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when he fired wastefully over the bar after a fine move.
Liverpool took the lead after Florian Wirtz’s shot deflected off Pascal Gross to scale into the net in the 17th minute.
Four minutes later, Isak scored in his third consecutive Premier League match for Liverpool when he finished off Bradley Barcola’s cross to make it 2-0.
Liverpool held on to seal a vital win that moved them up to fourth on the Premier League table.
It was Brighton’s second defeat in 13 matches in all competitions this season.
Liverpool coach, Andoni Iraola, was delighted with the team’s performance to seal their first victory of the season at home.
He said: “Very happy for today, very happy overall for these four wins.
“I think we had a very good opposition today in front, similar to Villarreal the other day – teams that technically are really good.
“It’s difficult to defend them a lot of times. I think today the key was how we started.
“We needed a stronger start, be aggressive, recover the ball, win our duels, be dangerous in transitions.
“I think we’ve done it and it has been a different game from the last ones, where we’ve conceded first and after you need a comeback.
“Today, I think we’ve started better and the game has gone differently.”
The Spanish manager also backed Isak to continue his fine goal-scoring form for the club.
Iraola added: “He’s a striker, if we can put him in those positions, we can provide him with crosses, good situations, he will score the goals.
“I think it’s a matter of, in this case, Bradley [Barcola] winning the duel, going one-v-one, being faster than the opposition and finding good spots.”
Liverpool have now won four consecutive matches in all competitions since losing 3-0 to Manchester City.
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Iraola was pleased with team’s defensive structure, while heaping praises on Ronald Araujo, who was named the Player of the match.
He concluded: “Yes, especially [in the] second half. In the second half, obviously we defended lower, we didn’t give so much space. It was 50-50 in the first half.
“Both defences were quite high and then there was space behind both defensive lines. Second half, I think we were more compact. But it’s a team that, if you see stats, they cross a lot, so you have to do the basics very well.
“You have to clear the ball very well, block shots very well, block crosses, and win second balls. I think overall our defenders have been doing those basics well.
“It helps a lot. I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he’s very good in the duels. Even in the first goal, I think he wins two duels in a row.
“He arrives at the byline and after it’s not an assist but it’s worth an assist. And defensively, I think he’s been really, really good. I’m happy for him because I’ve taken him out in the last two games because we needed more offensive things in half-time and he has continued working with no issues.
“Today we needed him more. He has given a very, very good 90 minutes.”
Liverpool will return to action against Chelsea in the EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday at Anfield.
Brighton will face Man City in the same competition on Wednesday.
