Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 as Hurzeler laments missed chance

Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on October 25, with a Pascal Gross own goal and an Alexander Isak strike securing the home side’s first Premier League home victory of the season. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler called the defeat a missed opportunity, saying his team had created chances but failed to finish them. Both Liverpool goals came in the first half, in a spell of about four minutes. Gross turned the ball into his own net before Isak scored from Bradley Barcola’s cross. Brighton had opportunities before and after falling behind: Yasin Ayari missed a chance early in the match and later hit the post. Hurzeler said Brighton had one or two significant chances before Liverpool scored and argued that the difference was that Liverpool converted while his side did not. He praised Liverpool’s defending, saying the team blocked shots and protected its penalty area effectively. He also acknowledged Brighton lacked efficiency in the final third. The Brighton manager said defensive mistakes and lost individual duels contributed to the goals conceded. He described Liverpool’s first goal as stemming from a duel Brighton could have won and said the second followed a Brighton...