Liverpool 2-0 Brighton gave Andoni Iraola’s side a fourth straight win in all competitions, with a Pascal Gross own goal and Alexander Isak’s finish deciding the match before half-time. The Reds kept their advantage intact after the break to move into fourth place in the Premier League.
Isak, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Bradley Barcola returned to the starting line-up after the midweek Champions League game against Villarreal. Barcola’s involvement followed the fitness update in our Liverpool v Brighton team-news preview, and he had a direct role in the second goal.
Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Wirtz forces the opener
The early exchanges were not all Liverpool’s. Cody Gakpo tested Bart Verbruggen with a curling effort, but Yasin Ayari then passed up a clear opening for Brighton when he sent Gross’ cut-back over the bar.
Liverpool made the visitors pay. Ronald Araujo’s cross was only partly cleared and Wirtz reacted to the loose ball, driving a low shot towards goal. It went in off Gross, with the opener recorded as an own goal rather than a Wirtz strike.
Verbruggen kept out another Gakpo effort, but the second arrived soon afterwards. Barcola blocked Olivier Boscagli’s clearance, chased down the loose ball and resisted a challenge before supplying Isak, who finished from close range.
It was another telling contribution from the striker after his part in the comeback win at Brentford. Here, Liverpool were building a lead rather than trying to erase a deficit.
Araújo and Jacquet protect Liverpool’s lead
Brighton still posed problems before the interval. Jeremy Jacquet and Araujo made important defensive interventions, while Ayari struck the post after Liverpool lost possession while playing out from a goal-kick.
Araujo also threatened at the other end, forcing Verbruggen to turn away a powerful shot before the break. Liverpool went in two goals ahead, but Brighton had shown enough to make the clean sheet worth protecting.
Liverpool 2-0 Brighton secured without a late scare
Brighton pushed more players forward in the second half. Substitute Trey Nyoni stopped a dangerous run by Maxim De Cuyper, while Liverpool did not make the most of the space available on the counter.
The home side nevertheless prevented a Brighton goal and avoided the kind of late uncertainty that had accompanied the 4-3 victory over Villarreal. At Anfield this time, two first-half goals and a clean sheet were enough to settle Liverpool 2-0 Brighton.
Sources: Liverpool FC’s official match report and Liverpool Echo’s completed match coverage, 25 October 2026.
