Hurzeler accuses Brighton of being the only side trying to win after 2-0 Anfield defeat

Fabian Hurzeler took a pointed swipe at Liverpool after Brighton fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Anfield on Sunday, insisting his side were the only team on the pitch genuinely trying to win the game. First-half goals from an Andoni Iraola own goal — Florian Wirtz’s effort deflecting in off Pascal Gross — and Alexander Isak, who tucked home Bradley Barcola’s cross four minutes later, proved enough to separate the sides.

Hurzeler’s frustration was understandable on the numbers. Brighton controlled 64 per cent of possession and generated an xG of 1.35 to Liverpool’s 0.87, yet managed just one shot on target to the hosts’ four. Yasin Ayari twice went close, first firing over the crossbar and then striking the post.

“Everyone in the stadium saw that there was one team who really tried to create and try to win this game and therefore I have to praise my players,” Hurzeler said at his post-match press conference. “Everyone in the stadium felt there was a missed opportunity for us, because it’s not only after the goal or the goals they scored. Also, before they scored, we had one, two big chances and today I think it was just the difference that they scored, we didn’t score.”

The Brighton head coach was keen to frame the result as a performance to build on rather than a step back. “Overall I saw a team with a lot of good things to take away. I saw a team that really had the belief in our approach, that stuck to the match plan, that always kept going, and that is very frustrating because we all have the feeling that there is a missed opportunity here today.”

For Liverpool, it was a fourth consecutive win across all competitions, lifting them to fourth in the Premier League table. Brighton remain third, though their lead over the Reds has been trimmed to a single point.

Isak’s strike was his sixth goal of the season, and manager Andoni Iraola highlighted the importance of how his side began the match. “I think today the key was how we started. We needed a stronger start, be aggressive, recover the ball, win our duels, be dangerous in transitions. I think we’ve done it and it has been a different game from the last ones, where we’ve conceded first and after you need a comeback.”

Iraola also acknowledged the quality of the opposition, comparing Brighton to Villarreal in their technical ability. “It’s difficult to defend them a lot of times,” he said. “He’s a striker if we can put him in those positions, we can provide him with crosses, good situations, he will score the goals” — a nod to Isak’s clinical finishing when chances arrive.