Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Isak nets again as own goal ends Seagulls' winning run

Liverpool race into a 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes

Liverpool ended Brighton’s brilliant form at Anfield with a 2-0 Premier League win on Sunday 25 October, racing into a two-goal lead by the 21st minute to end the Seagulls’ run of four straight league wins by an aggregate 15-0.

The visitors came into the contest flying high in third place, but their wings were clipped early. Matters might have been different had Yasin Ayari put away an early chance with the goal gaping, but the Brighton forward sliced over. Liverpool were swiftly punished when Florian Wirtz’s wayward effort was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Pascal Gross.

Isak then continued his fine form as he nudged in from Bradley Barcola’s cross. The former Newcastle United striker has netted in three straight league games for the first time since January 2025, when he went on a run of eight matches with a goal. BBC Sport’s player ratings highlighted Isak, Barcola and Wirtz as the stand-out performers, with Barcola and Wirtz both rated 8 for their influence on the game.

Brighton wastefulness and defensive lapses

Ayari struck the woodwork following a bad error from Alisson, but Brighton’s attack was blunted after the break. Maxim De Cuyper had the Seagulls’ best chance, but found his path to goal blocked by substitute Trey Nyoni, who had just replaced the injured Wirtz.

Liverpool’s day almost got better when Luka Vuskovic thumped an overhit back pass towards his own goal, but Bart Verbruggen was on hand to spare his blushes. Brighton only managed one shot on target from 17 in total, with Ayari failing to hit the target with any of his three attempts.

The clean sheet was Liverpool’s fourth of the league campaign, a tally only Arsenal and Brighton can better with five each. The Reds are now unbeaten in all 127 Premier League home games when leading by 2+ goals at half-time, W124 D3.

Reaction and ratings notes

BBC’s player ratings noted Alisson kept a clean sheet after a nervy moment out from the back, Virgil van Dijk was back to his usual self, Milos Kerkez was part of a backline that kept Brighton out, Ryan Gravenberch offered solid work rate and Alexis Mac Allister was one of Liverpool’s better players. Cody Gakpo constantly threatened down the left and had two efforts saved.

For Brighton, Bart Verbruggen made good first-half saves before being undone by the deflection, while Pascal Gross was booked and culpable for the second goal after losing the ball for Liverpool’s opener. The Seagulls had been overperforming defensively, with a 5.16 overperformance of goals conceded compared to their expected goals against figure prior to the weekend being the biggest in the division.