Isak strikes as Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 for first home league win
- Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, their first Premier League home win of the season.
- Pascal Gross's own goal opened the scoring before Alexander Isak added a second four minutes later.
- The win lifts Liverpool to fourth, a point behind third-placed Brighton and six behind leaders Manchester City.
Liverpool claimed their first Premier League home win of the season on Sunday, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at Anfield. Two goals in four first-half minutes settled the match, and manager Andoni Iraola finally tasted top-flight success on Merseyside.
The opener came in the 17th minute. Florian Wirtz's shot appeared to be heading wide before it deflected off Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross and into the net, and the goal was credited as an own goal. Four minutes later, Bradley Barcola crossed from the right and Alexander Isak finished from close range.
Brighton had chances of their own. Yasin Ayari fired over with the goal at his mercy early on, and later hit the post after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker lost the ball while playing out from the back. Bart Verbruggen also made several saves to keep the score down, denying Cody Gakpo and Ronald Araujo among others.
Why it matters
The result lifts Liverpool from fifth to fourth, one point behind third-placed Brighton and six behind leaders Manchester City. It was Iraola's first league win at Anfield since he replaced Arne Slot in the summer, having already won Champions League and League Cup games there. Liverpool have now won four in a row in all competitions since a 3-0 home defeat to City.
Isak's goal was his sixth in seven league games this season, second only to Erling Haaland's nine. The Sweden striker, a British record £125 million signing from Newcastle in September 2025, has now scored in three straight league games for the first time since January 2025. He missed much of last season with a broken leg.
Wirtz, whose form has been closely watched since his move from Bayer Leverkusen, impressed before being substituted in the 65th minute. Brighton's defeat was only their second in 13 matches in all competitions this season.
What happens next
Liverpool host Chelsea in the League Cup fourth round on Wednesday, before second-placed Arsenal visit Anfield on November 1. Brighton will look to bounce back in their next league fixture.
