13 DECEMBER 2025
LIVERPOOL 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0
PREMIER LEAGUE - at ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL.
Albion travelled North to meet last season's Champions Liverpool in a Premier League fixture at Anfield, the game being broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous Premier League game the Albion drew 1-1 at home to West Ham United on the 7 December and for their visit to Anfield the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the West Ham game, with Jack Hinshelwood and Brajan Gruda coming in for Maxim De Cuyper and Danny Welbeck, the latter two dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Last time out in the Premier Liverpool had drawn 3-3 at Leeds United on the 6 December and for Albion's visit Head Coach Arne Slot made one change to his starting line-up from the Leeds game, with Joe Gomez replacing Conor Bradley.
The teams met three times last season. On the 30 October 2024, at the Amex in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup it finished 3-2 to Liverpool, with their goals coming from Cody Gakpo 2 (46m & 63m) and Luis Diaz (85m) whilst Albion's goals were scored by Simon Adingra (81m) and Tariq Lamptey (90m). On the 2 November 2024 in the Premier at Anfield Liverpool won 2-1, with Cody Gakpo (69m) and Mohamed Salah (72m) netting their goals after Ferdi Kadioglu (14m) had put the Seagulls ahead. In the return fixture at the Amex on the 19 May 2025 the Albion won 3-2 with Yasin Ayari (32m), Kaoru Mitoma (69m) and Jack Hinshelwood (85m) scoring for the Albion and Harvey Elliott (9m) and Dominik Szoboszlai (45+1m) replying for Liverpool.
With the disgruntled Mohamed Salah sat on Liverpool's substitutes bench, it was his team who took the lead on 48 seconds after they were gifted an opener following a series of misplaced passes by the Seagulls. It started with a poor back-pass by AFCON bound Carlos Baleba and concluded with Yankuba Minteh's dreadful lofted pass across his own penalty area which enabled Joe Gomez to head the ball into the path of Hugo Ekitike who gratefully smashed the ball past Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal. The Seagulls had made a woeful start to the game. 0-1.
To their credit, the Albion recovered their poise but unfortunately missed a lot of chances in the process. First Minteh fired a shot narrowly wide then Minteh sent Diego Gomez clear but Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker made a superb save to deny the Paraguayan. On 26 minutes Salah substituted for the injured Gomez and took up his usual right-wing position. Former Albion favourite Alexis Mac Allister then saw his effort saved by Verbruggen and Ekitike went close on two occasions. The last action of the opening half saw Virgil Van Dijk block Minteh's goalbound volley.
Half-time 0-1.
Soon after the re-start the Albion came ever so close to equalising when Gomez got on the end of Mats Wieffer's cross but his shot hit the post and then Brajan Gruda fizzed a shot inches wide.The Seagulls went further behind on the hour when Salah's corner was met by the head of the unmarked Ekitike who headed home from close-in. 0-2.
After a lengthy absence through injury Kaoru Mitoma was introduced as a substitute for Gruda on 64 minutes and James Milner made a late cameo appearance when he substituted for Gomez on 87 minutes.
Final-score 0-2.Match stats:
Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
Liverpool had 18 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
VERDICT - The Albion could not have made a worse start, going a goal down in just 48 seconds. To their credit the Albion recovered but missed a number of good chances and conceded a second preventable goal. It was good to see Kaoru Mitoma and James Milner return from injury.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU; Carlos BALEBA (Yasin AYARI 64), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Danny WELBECK 82); Yankuba MINTEH, Brajan GRUDA (Kaoru MITOMA 64), Diego GOMEZ (James MILNER 87); Georginio RUTTER (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 82). Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Joel VELTMAN, Olivier BOSCAGLI, Maxim DE CUYPER.
Liverpool line-up (4-2-3-1):- Alisson BECKER; Joe GOMEZ (Mohamed SALAH 26), Ibrahima KONATE, Virgil VAN DIJK (Capt), Milos KERKEZ; Ryan GRAVENBERCH, Curtis JONES; Dominik SZOBOSZLAI (Federico CHIESA 83), Alexis MAC ALLISTER, Florian WIRTZ (Andrew ROBERTSON 78); Hugo EKITIKE (Alexander ISAK 78).
Subs not used; Giorgi MAMARD- ASHVILI (G/K), Wellity LUCKY, Rio NGUMOHA, Calvin RAMSEY.
Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).
Fourth Official: Tom Nield.
VAR Official: Darren England.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Lewis Dunk, Diego Gomez. Liverpool: 1 - Ibrahima Konate.
Possession: Albion - 51%. Liverpool - 49%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)..
Attendance: 60429.
NEXT GAME:
20 DECEMBER 2025 - SUNDERLAND - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
18 December 2025.