Fragile Liverpool must improve after Brighton thriller, demands Klopp

Jurgen Klopp accepted Liverpool's defending was not good enough as a Leandro Trossard hat-trick secured a 3-3 draw for Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield.

Trossard gave the visitors deserved two-goal lead inside 17 minutes of head coach Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge on Saturday, but Roberto Firmino pulled a goal back before the break and equalised early in the second half.

Adam Webster's own goal put the Reds ahead for the first time, but a third clinical left-foot finish from Belgium forward Trossard with seven minutes of normal time remaining salvaged a warranted point.

Trossard became only the third visiting player to score a Premier League hat-trick at Anfield, after Peter Ndlovu and Andrey Arshavin, and Brighton could have added more goals as Liverpool's defensive frailties were exposed.

A point for Liverpool leaves them in ninth and Klopp believes his team can have few complaints, with Trent Alexander-Arnold – who was in the headlines this week after being left out of the England squad to face Germany – twice caught out as Trossard put Brighton in command early on.

Klopp told BBC Sport: "This game has different stories. There is the story of how we conceded two early goals, there is the story of how we came back in the game, then there is the story of how we threw it away.

"Brighton are a really good football team and a real team. It was a different formation, we were surprised a little bit? Yes, a little. But we were already 2-0 down when we adapted from that.

"We scored our goals which were the counter-attacks. We could have won, but would we have deserved to win? I'm actually not sure. Brighton deserved something.

"With all the good things we did during the week the confidence is a little lower and when someone stamps on it, it is really difficult. We have to accept it. Of course it is not enough for us but it is what we got.

"I spoke to the boys in a similar way to how I speak to you. I don't know how many times I have to say we need a reaction. The first goal has an impact on both teams. They were flying and we were somewhere in between. They used that for the second goal.

"We could have defended much better. It's football and you have to accept it. On a day when it starts like this, it's important to fight your way through. It would be nice if you could win it. We always have problems against Brighton who are a very good football team, but we have to do better.

"I know we have 10 points and that's the reality. I don't hide from that. We have to go together and build."

Liverpool's tally of 10 points is their joint-fourth worst total through their first seven Premier League matches of a season.