Final Thoughts: Hugo Ekitike shines as Liverpool beat Brighton | OneFootball

Liverpool 2 – 0 Brighton – Premier League Postmortem

Liverpool Inter and this return to domestic competition were seen as the true test of whether the reigning champions had turned their respective corners. Brighton arrived from the south as Mohamed Salah made his way back into the first team squad.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Joe Gomez

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• ACM – Florian Wirtz

• CF – Hugo Ekitike

• CAM – Curtis Jones

Substitutes

Mohamed Salah → Joe Gomez (26’)

Alexander Isak → Hugo Ekitike (78’)

Andy Robertson → Florian Wirtz (78’)

Federico Chiesa → Dominik Szoboszlai (83’)

Goals

Liverpool 1–0 Brighton – Hugo Ekitike (Joe Gomez) – 1’

Liverpool 2–0 Brighton – Hugo Ekitike (Mohamed Salah) – 60’

Match Statistics

• Possession – Liverpool 49% | Brighton 51%

• XG – Liverpool 1.89 | Brighton 1.90

• Total Shots – Liverpool 18 | Brighton 14

• Fouls – Liverpool 8 | Brighton 15

• Corners – Liverpool 2 | Brighton 2

• Saves – Liverpool 1 | Brighton 2

First Half

An Anfield crowd that has lived through too many false dawns this season barely had time to settle before Liverpool struck. Inside the opening minute, Joe Gomez advanced with intent and delivered a perfectly weighted ball that Hugo Ekitike attacked with aggression and clarity. It was decisive, ruthless, and exactly the type of moment Liverpool has too often lacked.

That early breakthrough shaped the half. Liverpool did not chase control for the sake of it; instead, it allowed Brighton spells of possession while remaining compact and disciplined. The diamond midfield continued to offer protection, with Mac Allister and Gravenberch prioritising positioning over risk, while Curtis Jones worked intelligently between the lines.

Florian Wirtz operated in pockets, drifting centrally and linking play without forcing the issue. Brighton moved the ball neatly but struggled to find space between the lines, as Konaté and Van Dijk dealt comfortably with anything direct. Alisson was rarely troubled after a brilliant one-on-one save early on, and Liverpool went into the interval ahead with structure intact and nerves settled.

Second Half

The restart brought a more aggressive Brighton, pressing higher and attempting to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm. There were moments where the visitors looked capable of forcing the issue, but this time the Reds held firm rather than folding under pressure.

Milos Kerkez continued his impressive run, balancing defensive awareness with controlled progression. The enforced early introduction of Mohamed Salah could have unsettled Liverpool’s shape, but instead it sharpened their threat in transition. Salah’s awareness and timing proved crucial on the hour, as his contribution set up Ekitike for his second of the night with a beautifully weighted cross to the back post.

The French striker’s finish was calm and assured, reinforcing the growing sense that he is currently Liverpool’s most reliable forward. At 2–0, Liverpool played with a maturity that has been absent too often this season. Changes were made to manage energy levels rather than chase chaos, with Robertson and Chiesa adding experience and work rate late on.

Brighton continued to probe, but Liverpool never truly lost control.

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Final Thoughts

This was another performance built on structure rather than spectacle, and right now that feels like progress. Liverpool did not overwhelm Brighton, but they were efficient, disciplined, and far more secure than in recent weeks.

Hugo Ekitike’s brace will rightly dominate the headlines, yet this win was underpinned by organisation and restraint. The diamond system continues to offer balance, the midfield looks less exposed, and confidence is slowly returning.

There is still much to fix, but this felt like a team beginning to understand its limitations—and playing within them. For a side rebuilding belief, that matters.

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Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Brighton