Liverpool recorded their first home Premier League win of the season thanks to an impressive performance against in-form Brighton.

Two goals in a five-minute first half spell – an own goal from Seagulls midfielder Pascal Gross followed by Alexander Isak’s sixth goal of the season – put the Reds in control.

They should have conceded before the goals came, but Brighton’s Yasin Ayari fired wastefully over the top after a fine move from the visitors.

Ayari’s miss proved costly as Liverpool took a 17th-minute lead when Florian Wirtz’s shot, which was going wide, was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Gross.

That was the first goal the Seagulls had conceded in the league since a 1-1 draw against Leeds on 5 September.

Brighton’s defence was breached again shortly after, when Bradley Barcola did superbly down the right wing to create a chance and his cross was met by Isak’s cushioned volley to double the Reds’ advantage.

The visitors were nearly gifted a way back into the match when home goalkeeper Alisson lost possession when playing out for the back, but Ayari’s shot rebounded off the foot of the right-hand post.

Liverpool did enough to see out Andoni Iraola’s first league win at Anfield as Reds boss – to follow two home Champions League victories and one in the Carabao Cup since he replaced the sacked Arne Slot in the summer.

Brighton’s loss was only their second in 13 matches in all competitions in 2026-27 and they stay third in the Premier League, with Liverpool moving up from fifth to fourth, one point behind the Seagulls.

Isak, Barcola and Wirtz turn up – player ratings for Liverpool v Brighton

Iraola’s side are starting to find form, with this their fourth successive victory since a 3-0 loss to Manchester City in their previous Premier League match at Anfield.

Since that defeat, the Reds have now scored 14 goals in four games, with big-name players showing their class in the Premier League and Champions League.

Midfielder Wirtz has seen his performances come under huge scrutiny and debate since his move from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025 in a deal that could rise to £116m.

The German, impressive on this occasion before going off in the 65th minute, thought he had scored his first Premier League goal of the season.

He was originally credited with Liverpool’s opener, only for it to be later judged as a Gross own goal.

Barcola and Isak, who also each cost more than £100m, linked up superbly for Liverpool’s second goal with the Reds a constant threat on the counter-attack.

Isak joined in a British record £125m move from Newcastle in September 2025, but he missed a large part of last season with a broken leg.

But the Swede’s total of six league goals this season is the second highest in the Premier League, behind only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland on nine.

Liverpool could and should have scored more.

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen twice saved to deny Cody Gakpo and also kept out an effort from Ronald Araujo. Ex-Seagulls midfielder Alexis Mac Allister headed wide against his former side and Isak fired another attempt over.

At the other end of the pitch, the Reds’ defensive performances have been questioned this season, but they produced a resilient effort in the second half to stop any potential Brighton fightback.

Brighton analysis: Early miss costly for Seagulls

Brighton have made a superb start to the season, but this was not their day.

They had a 5-0 win over rivals Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League, while they have also progressed into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and are unbeaten after two matches in the main phase of the Conference League.

The Seagulls have never finished higher than sixth in English football’s top division and their fans are hoping for a push for a Champions League spot after their impressive start.

But after the win over Palace, boss Fabian Hurzeler was quick to shut down any talk that they could be involved in the Premier League title race, and how they cope with the extra fixtures will be a key factor.

Games are coming thick and fast for Brighton, who drew 0-0 in the Czech Republic against Jablonec on Thursday in the Conference League.

This was the second of five successive away matches and perhaps a reality check for Brighton’s ambitions this season.

Hurzeler was left to rue what might have been had Ayari put them ahead following a lovely move from his Brighton side, whose total of 23 goals is the highest in the top flight.

Diego Gomez, a goalscorer from the halfway line against Palace, played a superb through ball to Gross and his pull-back found Ayari, but the Sweden midfielder could only shoot over when he should have scored.

Brighton quickly found themselves two goals behind, and despite having more of the ball, securing 64% of possession, the visitors could only manage one shot on target as they failed to score in the Premier League for the first time this season.

Both of these sides are next in action with Carabao Cup last-16 ties on Wednesday, with Liverpool at home to Chelsea. Brighton face another tough away task in the north west, at Manchester City. (BBC)

•Alexander Isak has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since January 2025 when he struck in eight in a row for Newcastle