Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: Isak goal helps extend winning run as Reds climb to fourth

Liverpool beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at Anfield to make it four wins in a row in all competitions and climb to fourth in the Premier League.

It was also Liverpool's first league win at Anfield since April, ending a run of five home games and six months without one. Andoni Iraola's side now sit within a point of third-placed Brighton.

Liverpool started brilliantly with a high-press putting the visitors under pressure. However, the first real chance fell to the Seagulls. Brighton's Yasin Ayari blazed over from a Pascal Gross cut-back in the 14th minute, and the squandered opportunity was soon punished. Just three minutes later, Florian Wirtz's low strike went in off Gross to put Liverpool ahead.

Moments later, the lead was doubled. Bradley Barcola charged down an attempted clearance from Olivier Boscagli, brushed off a challenge and curled a cross into the path of Alexander Isak, who finished from close range.

Brighton grew back into the game after Liverpool's quick-fire start, and Ayari struck the post in the 36th minute, before Verbruggen tipped away a powerful drive from Ronald Araujo at the other end.

The Seagulls saw plenty of the ball after the break but were unable to find a route past the home side's defence.

Brighton had not conceded in all competitions for over nine hours before kick-off and arrived as the Premier League's leading scorers with 23 goals. Liverpool, by contrast, had scored just nine in their first seven league games.

The one Liverpool concern was an injury to Wirtz, who had been bright. He was replaced by Trey Nyoni on 65 minutes after stretching to halt a Brighton attack.

Liverpool have now won four consecutive games in all competitions, a run that has followed a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month. The Reds face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek, before meeting Premier League champions Arsenal next weekend.