Liverpool continued their upward momentum with a controlled 2–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, making it five matches unbeaten in all competitions. Hugo Ekitike was the standout performer, scoring in each half to secure back-to-back league wins for Arne Slot’s side.
Much of the pre-match attention centered on Mohamed Salah after his midweek omission for the Champions League trip to Inter Milan, following public criticism of the manager and club. Despite the surrounding speculation, Salah returned to the matchday squad for his final appearance before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Starting on the bench once again, the Egyptian forward was introduced early after Joe Gomez was forced off injured and made an immediate impact. Liverpool’s victory moved them up to sixth place in the Premier League standings after a disciplined and efficient display.
Below is a breakdown of how each Liverpool player performed on the day.
Alisson Becker A quiet afternoon overall, but the goalkeeper remained alert. He showed excellent awareness when rushing off his line to deny Gomez in a one-on-one situation after Brighton briefly threatened.
Joe Gomez Added another assist to his season with a clever header into Ekitike’s path for the opening goal. He could have claimed a second assist had Ekitike converted another chance. His afternoon ended prematurely due to injury, which was a frustrating setback given his recent form.
Ibrahima Konaté An authoritative defensive display. Though occasionally overzealous, his aggression and commitment were key. He produced a vital recovery run to stop Minteh on the counter and made a crucial block to preserve the clean sheet. Strong in both tackles and aerial duels.
Virgil van Dijk Handled Brighton’s attacking threat comfortably, winning his physical battle with Rutter and blocking a dangerous effort from Minteh. It was a relatively straightforward afternoon for the captain.
Milos Kerkez Tasked with containing Minteh and executed his role well. His physical approach and timely challenges drew approval from the Anfield crowd as he limited the winger’s influence.
Ryan Gravenberch Continued to develop an impressive understanding with Curtis Jones. He drove forward with intent, tested the goalkeeper, and contributed defensively late on with important blocks and headers to protect the lead.
Curtis Jones Delivered another reliable midfield performance. Balanced his defensive duties with maintaining control in possession and adapted well when asked to fill in at right-back later in the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai Put in a tireless shift before switching to right-back following Gomez’s injury. Linked up effectively with Salah down the right flank and had two attempts on goal. He took a knock in the second half and was eventually withdrawn to a warm reception from the Kop.
Alexis Mac Allister Played further forward and showed good involvement, though his end product was lacking. He missed a presentable chance with a weak finish and failed to pick out Ekitike when a square pass looked on.
Florian Wirtz Started wide on the left but roamed intelligently, causing problems between the lines. He created two clear opportunities for Ekitike and was influential in the first half. Though quieter after the interval, he still played a key role in launching counter-attacks.
Hugo Ekitike A decisive and composed performance. He opened the scoring inside the first minute with a brilliant touch and finish, then doubled his tally by heading home from Salah’s precise delivery. Clinical finishing and intelligent movement capped an outstanding display.
Substitutes
Mohamed Salah Introduced earlier than expected and immediately lifted the tempo. He nearly assisted Mac Allister and provided the perfect cross for Ekitike’s second goal. Although he missed a late chance, his threat was constant throughout his cameo.
Alexander Isak Had limited opportunities to influence the game in attacking areas. He did contribute defensively, clearing a corner, but was unable to make the most of a chance created by Chiesa.
Andy Robertson Deployed unusually as a left winger rather than his customary left-back role, marking the first time he has done so in his Liverpool career. A solid but understated performance.
Federico Chiesa Made a lively late appearance and was close to registering an assist in stoppage time with a dangerous low cross for Salah before picking out Isak moments later.
