Liverpool vs Brighton result: Five things we learned as the Seagulls shock the Reds

Liverpool suffered a second straight defeat at Anfield as they were beaten 1-0 by Brighton in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp’s sie largely dominated first-half possession, but chances were difficult to come by with the away side working hard off the ball and getting numbers back. It was Dan Burn who had the best chance of the opening half-hour, but he scooped a shot over with his weaker right foot when the ball dropped his way.

Ten minutes after the restart, the Seagulls took the lead; a deep cross found Dan Burn at the far post and he sent it back across goal, Steven Alzate scuffing his effort off team-mate Leandro Trossard and into the net.

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Mohamed Salah fired one over from inside the penalty box and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did the same from range as the Reds sought a way back into the match, but Caoimhin Kelleher had to make a great save from Pascal Gross to keep Liverpool in it. Both teams had efforts from range in the closing stages, but the single goal proved enough for the points.

Here are five things we learned from the game at Anfield.

Reds’ form

Liverpool were back in form, was the message after the weekend - but a two-game win streak appears to be a false dawn.

Klopp’s side were lethargic and uninspiring for too much of the game, frustrated by Brighton’s numbers behind the ball and showing a lack of movement behind the away team’s defence.

Conceding the odd chance or goal might be expected when so many of the usual backbone are missing, so the emphasis at home had to be on fashioning openings of their own.

In this regard Liverpool failed woefully - or, as has been their habit, Brighton stopped them succeeding.

Brighton defence

They might be down at the bottom, but the Seagulls’ lowly league placing is far more about a lack of clinical edge than any missing quality.

In build-up, work rate and organisation they have been largely impressive all season long, but missing a killer touch in front of goal too often and being punished for it at the other end.

The fact that they are consistent and have a great shape at the back is reflected in the stats: ahead of kick-off, only table-topping Man City and the reigning champions themselves, Liverpool, had conceded fewer shots per match than Graham Potter’s team.

With 10 minutes left on the clock at Anfield, the home side had managed 10 shots - the same as Brighton - and only one on target, a huge nod to the work rate, bravery and commitment of the away side.

Missing men

The Reds are, of course, without all three of their previous centre-backs for the rest of the season: Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip. But they were far from the only familiar names missing.

Stand-in centre-back Fabinho remained out, likewise key forward Sadio Mane, midfielder Naby Keita and winger Diogo Jota.

Ahead of the game, Liverpool suffered a new blow: goalkeeper Alisson, ruled out through illness, meaning an entire diamond of first-choice defensive options missing from 'keeper, through centre-backs and to the holding midfielder.

Brighton, too, had their absences: the in-form Alexis Mac Allister missed out along with Joel Veltman, while they were already without Tariq Lamptey, Danny Welbeck, Jose Izquierdo and Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Neither side area able to play at anywhere near full-strength right now and the lack of clear openings in the game were maybe reflective of that.

Salah or nobody?

Liverpool’s Egyptian forward scored twice at United in the cup and twice at West Ham at the weekend, but he was denied space or chances here outside of the very first minute, when he lobbed an instinctive effort over.

Sadly for Liverpool, nobody else looked remotely like scoring.

There was little invention or variation in the play, set-pieces were a dead loss due to Brighton’s size and numbers, the midfielders barely chanced their arm between them and, in attack, Roberto Firmino was off-form with his touch and pass. He was replaced by Divock Origi, who offered nothing at all, and not for the first time.

Top four, bottom four

Liverpool had an element of expectation on them heading into this game, if not outright pressure: Man United, Man City and Leicester all won their games this midweek, leaving the Reds fourth and needing the points to stay in touch with leaders City, ahead of the clash with Pep Guardiola’s team at the weekend.

Dropped points were a travesty, then.

Klopp’s team cannot really complain, as they didn’t play fast enough, smart enough or with enough real attacking verve to trouble Robert Sanchez in goal.

For Brighton, it was about building more buffer between themselves and the bottom three - a gap which was seven points at kick-off after the same number of games played, 21.

Now they’ve played the extra fixture, but they also have a gap of double figures, as well as the knowledge that Burnley and Newcastle stand between themselves and the dotted line.