Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: In-form Verbruggen tops ratings again | OneFootball

According to WeAreBrighton.com, Bart Verbruggen again topped Brighton’s player ratings despite a 2-0 loss at Liverpool, his form the clear positive. He could do little about either goal and was tidy with handling and distribution.

Liverpool led inside 48 seconds after Brighton were caught out at the back. A risky diagonal over the visitors’ own area and loose positioning preceded the opener, leaving Verbruggen exposed.

Down the left, Ferdi Kadioglu initially struggled with Joe Gomez’s forward bursts before Gomez departed injured inside 30 minutes and Mohamed Salah returned. Early in the second half Salah threatened to add a second on the break, Verbruggen stretched to save.

Brighton fashioned chances but lacked composure, with only one of 14 shots on target. Diego Gomez’s snapshot when through was stopped by Alisson after Yankubu Minteh’s pass, and the forward later steered wide from close range after Mats Wieffer’s low cross. Brajan Gruda also worked space before firing just wide.

In midfield, Carlos Baleba made his final appearance before AFCON and was substituted again. Yasin Ayari’s introduction improved Brighton after the break, while Kaoru Mitoma returned from 11 weeks out and, rust evident, miscued badly from a promising position. Danny Welbeck was rested and used late, and Charalampos Kostoulas also featured.

Source: WeAreBrighton.com