Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, with both goals arriving in a four-minute burst midway through the first half. The win lifts Liverpool to fourth in the Premier League, one point behind third-placed Brighton.

Four-minute burst settles it

Brighton were briefly down a man early following a sixth-minute injury to Costinha, though Liverpool could not immediately capitalise as Cody Gakpo forced a smart save in the ninth minute. Liverpool then rode their luck when Yasin Ayari missed a gilt-edged chance, firing high over the crossbar. Moments later, in the 17th minute, Florian Wirtz drove a low effort into the box that deflected off Pascal Gross for an own goal and a 1-0 lead.

Gakpo nearly doubled the lead moments later, only to be denied again, before Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak tore Brighton open in the 21st minute. Barcola delivered an inch-perfect cross across the area for Isak to apply a clinical finish and make it 2-0. Brighton settled back into the contest and struck the woodwork in the 36th minute, but Liverpool's backline held firm to take a commanding two-goal cushion into the interval, and the second half produced no further goals.

Table and form

The result moves Liverpool from fifth to fourth on 15 points after eight games, with Brighton third on 16 points and Chelsea fifth on 13. It is Liverpool's first home Premier League win of the season and a fourth straight win in all competitions. Isak has now scored in three Premier League appearances in a row and has six league goals, second only to Erling Haaland's nine. There was one concern for the hosts, as Wirtz went off after 65 minutes with an ankle knock.

Sources: LFC Globe, World Football Hub