Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Five First-Half Minutes Finally Get Anfield Started
A deflected Florian Wirtz strike and an Alexander Isak finish inside the opening 21 minutes gave Andoni Iraola a first home league win of the season and a fourth straight victory.
It took until late October, but Anfield finally has a home league win to celebrate. Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 on Sunday in front of 60,404, a result that — as This Is Anfield put it — made a statement with the club's first Anfield league win of the campaign. It was also a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, and it lifted Andoni Iraola's side to fourth, one point behind third-placed Brighton.
Five minutes that settled it
Both goals arrived in a first-half flurry. In the 17th minute, Florian Wirtz drilled a low strike that deflected in off Pascal Gross — officially an own goal, though Iraola was having none of the asterisk: the goal counts regardless of the deflection, he said, per NBC Sports. Four minutes later, Bradley Barcola's delivery into the box found Alexander Isak, who guided in his sixth goal of the season from close range.
Brighton's regrets
The margin flattered neither side's chances ledger. Yasin Ayari blazed over from a Gross cutback in the 14th minute and later saw a bending effort come back off the post. Bart Verbruggen tipped away a powerful Ronald Araujo drive before the break. "A missed opportunity," was Fabian Hurzeler's verdict — his side, he said, made two easy mistakes and paid for both.
What it means
For Iraola, the relief was audible. "We needed this win at home to celebrate with supporters," he said. "Fourth win in a row — this obviously feels good." One caveat: Wirtz left the pitch on 65 minutes after twisting an ankle, having played on following treatment.
The week ahead is unforgiving for both. Liverpool host Chelsea in the League Cup on Wednesday before visiting Arsenal in the league on Sunday, per the official club report, while Brighton face back-to-back trips to the Etihad to play Manchester City in cup and league.