Liverpool secured a 2‑0 victory over Brighton at Anfield on Sunday, marking the club’s first Premier League home win under new head coach Andoni Ira Iraola. Alexander Isak, who has scored in three straight league matches, finished the scoreline with a clinical strike that followed an own goal from Pascal Gross, who inadvertently redirected a Florian Wirtz shot into his own net. The win lifts Liverpool to fourth place in the table, just one point ahead of Brighton, and extends their winning streak to four consecutive matches across all competitions.
Brighton entered the match having scored 23 goals in their first seven games but were unable to convert their 64 % possession advantage into a goal. Yasin Ayari created a near‑miss early on, firing a shot over the bar, and later hit the post with a curling effort from outside the box. Despite dominating the midfield, the hosts managed only one shot on target and suffered their first defeat since August. The loss also ended Brighton’s brief run of unbeaten matches, with their only other loss coming in the opening game of the season.
Liverpool’s attack proved decisive in the first half. Bradley Barcola’s right‑wing cut‑back set up Isak, who finished with a precise finish to double the Reds’ advantage. The team’s possession was low, with only 35.6 % of the ball, the second‑lowest for a home win in the Premier League since 2003‑04. Nevertheless, the Reds’ quick, direct style under Iraola paid off, as the manager praised the collective spirit and the players’ willingness to support one another. “We started aggressively and needed this start because we had been coming from behind lately,” Iraola told Sky Sports. “It feels good to win at home and to celebrate with the supporters.”
In the second half, Liverpool had several opportunities to extend their lead but were denied by a series of saves from Bart Verbruggen. A crucial moment came when Trey Nyoni, who was introduced after Wirtz twisted his ankle, made a last‑ditch tackle to stop Maxim De Cuyper from scoring in the box. Brighton’s coach, Fabian Hürzeler, described the defeat as a missed opportunity, noting that the team made “two easy mistakes” that allowed Liverpool to score twice. He also highlighted the need to avoid such errors in future matches.
With the win, Liverpool have climbed to fourth place, just ahead of Chelsea, and are now eight points behind the league leaders. The victory also gives the Reds a boost as they continue to build momentum under Iraola, who values speed and incisiveness over possession. As the Premier League season progresses, Liverpool will look to maintain their form and close the gap to the top of the table while Brighton seeks to regroup after their first loss in months.