Liverpool's Costly New Signings Shine Bright in Dominant Victory Over Brighton

Andoni Iraola claimed his first Premier League victory at Anfield as Liverpool manager, with his side defeating an in-form Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds had been forced to stage a remarkable comeback in the Champions League on Tuesday, rallying from 2–0 down against Villarreal to claim a 4–3 victory. No such heroics were required this time around, as Liverpool stormed into a 2–0 advantage before the break.

While luck played a part in the opener, with Bart Verbruggen beaten by a Pascal Groß deflection off Florian Wirtz's wayward effort, Bradley Barcola's tenacity, pace and accuracy set up Liverpool's second, with Alexander Isak finishing from close range.

Yasin Ayari had wasted a golden opportunity beforehand, and Brighton predictably remained dangerous throughout the match. However, it simply wasn't the Seagulls' day in the attacking third, and as Fabian Hürzeler pushed to drag his team back into contention, they left themselves exposed to counterattacks in the second half.

Liverpool were also profligate with their chances as the match progressed, keeping nerves jangling around Anfield until the final whistle, but Iraola will still take heart from his side's defensive discipline, as the hosts secured a clean sheet in a win that, despite the scoreline, never felt entirely comfortable.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

This was the afternoon when all of Liverpool's $100 million signings delivered.

Wirtz's effort led to Groß's own goal before Barcola brilliantly teed up Isak for the Reds' second. The duo linked up once more, just as they had for the decisive goal at Brentford the previous weekend.

Barcola has responded admirably to the scrutiny he faced after struggling to make an impact for Iraola's depleted squad against Manchester City following the international break. There was always an expectation that the summer signing would need time to hit his stride, having barely featured in preseason due to persistent transfer speculation. He has certainly looked impressive over the last fortnight, and the best is still to come.

Isak's strong start to the season is going largely unnoticed, and his first-time finish, though appearing straightforward from close in, showcased a striker overflowing with confidence after a difficult, injury-plagued debut campaign. The Sweden international has now reached seven goals across all competitions this season in fewer than 800 minutes of action.

Critics were quick to write off the former Newcastle United striker during his struggles, yet are far less eager to credit Isak for his productive beginning to year two. The same applies to Wirtz, who netted his first Liverpool goal since April during the week and made another meaningful contribution on Sunday.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs. Brighton (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Alisson—7.3: Despite Brighton's persistent threat throughout the afternoon, the visitors were unable to truly test Liverpool's goalkeeper.

RB: Ronald Araújo—7.9: The Anfield crowd are growing increasingly fond of their loanee. Heartbreak may await, but they're savoring every moment for now.

CB: Jérémy Jacquet—6.8: Short sleeves paired with gloves was... a bold fashion statement. Regardless, the questionable outfit didn't prevent the talented young Frenchman from continuing his impressive start to the campaign.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—7.6: Van Dijk was a composed and authoritative presence throughout, unfazed by Brighton's pressing intensity.

LB: Milos Kerkez—7.3: The Hungarian continues to be a concern for Iraola. Still too unpredictable.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch—7.3: Brighton's ball dominance restricted Gravenberch in possession, and the midfielder was required to maintain a disciplined positional shape to shield the backline.

CM: Alexis Mac Allister—7.4: Much like Gravenberch, Mac Allister was motivated to impress against his former club and played a quietly effective role in Liverpool's victory.

RW: Bradley Barcola—7.9: Barcola's assist for Isak's goal was superb, but it was his tireless work off the ball that stood out most. Provided Araújo with consistent support throughout.

AM: Florian Wirtz—7.1: A promising performance from the German was cut short by an injury sustained around the hour mark.

LW: Cody Gakpo—7.5: Looked lively again without quite delivering in the final moment.

ST: Alexander Isak—7.9: An awkward opening was redeemed by netting Liverpool's second goal. Not the most dominant display, but he continues to be in the right position at the right time as he settles into his second season at the club.

SUB: Trey Nyoni (65' for Wirtz)—6.5: Made an important defensive intervention immediately after entering the pitch and took a heavy challenge in the process.

SUB: Lewis Koumas (77' for Isak)—6.0: Injected plenty of energy from the bench.

SUB: Rio Ngumoha (77' for Barcola)—6.4: Had limited opportunities to build on an outstanding midweek performance.

SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (87' for Kerkez)—N/A

Subs not used: Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Freddie Woodman (GK), Joe Gomez, Wataru Endō, James McConnell, Federico Chiesa.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Iraola's First Premier League Anfield Win