Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, 13 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Liverpool secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. The Reds struck early when Hugo Ekitiké scored in the first minute, assisted by Joe Gomez, setting a dominant tone from the outset. Joe Gomez was substituted off for Mohamed Salah in the 26th minute, and Liverpool maintained control, with Ekitiké adding his second goal on the hour mark, assisted by Salah, to seal the points. Coming off a mixed run with draws against Leeds United and Sunderland, plus a win over West Ham United, this result builds momentum for Liverpool after their recent home loss to Nottingham Forest.

Brighton & Hove Albion struggled to respond, picking up yellow cards for Diego Gómez in first-half stoppage time and Lewis Dunk just before the hour. The Seagulls made changes in the 64th minute, with Yasin Ayari replacing Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma coming on for Brajan Gruda, but they couldn’t find a way back. Further substitutions followed, including Charalampos Kostoulas for Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck for Jack Hinshelwood at 82’, and James Milner for Diego Gómez at 87’, yet Liverpool held firm. Brighton, who arrived on the back of a draw with West Ham United and a loss to Aston Villa, will rue missed opportunities after recent wins against Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

The game was evenly balanced in possession at 50% each, but Liverpool’s superior dribbling success—72 compared to Brighton’s 33—highlighted their edge in individual battles and ability to break lines. Corners were level at two apiece, suggesting neither side dominated set-pieces, while Liverpool’s two assists underlined their sharper attacking play against Brighton’s zero. Discipline saw Liverpool pick up one yellow card, with Brighton receiving two, and both teams used substitutions effectively—Liverpool making four changes and Brighton five—to manage energy and chase the game.

Liverpool’s substitutions included Mohamed Salah replacing Joe Gomez at 26’, Alexander Isak for Hugo Ekitiké and Andrew Robertson for Florian Wirtz both at 78’, and Federico Chiesa for Dominik Szoboszlai at 83’. Brighton’s adjustments came later, with Yasin Ayari for Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma for Brajan Gruda at 64’, followed by Charalampos Kostoulas for Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck for Jack Hinshelwood at 82’, and James Milner for Diego Gómez at 87’. No red cards, penalties, or injury-time goals influenced the outcome, keeping the focus on Liverpool’s clinical finishing.

Liverpool took the lead almost immediately, with Hugo Ekitiké scoring in the first minute after an assist from Joe Gomez, catching Brighton cold. The early substitution of Mohamed Salah for Joe Gomez at 26’ added fresh legs, and Ekitiké doubled the advantage at 60’ with Salah providing the assist, effectively killing off the contest. Ibrahima Konaté’s yellow card at 64’ was Liverpool’s only booking, while later changes like Alexander Isak replacing Ekitiké and Andrew Robertson for Florian Wirtz at 78’, plus Federico Chiesa for Dominik Szoboszlai at 83’, helped see out the win.

Brighton faced setbacks with Diego Gómez’s yellow card in stoppage time of the first half and Lewis Dunk’s caution at 59’, disrupting their rhythm. Their double substitution at 64’—Yasin Ayari for Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma for Brajan Gruda—aimed to inject pace, but it wasn’t enough. Further tweaks at 82’ saw Charalampos Kostoulas replace Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck come on for Jack Hinshelwood, with James Milner subbing in for Diego Gómez at 87’, yet these failed to spark a comeback.

Liverpool lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Hugo Ekitiké leading the line effectively as the focal point up front, bagging both goals. Joe Gomez started but made way early for Mohamed Salah, who provided an assist, while partnerships like Ekitiké and Salah proved decisive in attack. Ibrahima Konaté anchored the defence, picking up a yellow, and later introductions like Alexander Isak, Andrew Robertson, and Federico Chiesa added depth without shifting the overall shape.

Brighton & Hove Albion deployed a 4-2-3-1 setup, relying on Lewis Dunk in central defence, though he collected a yellow card. Diego Gómez featured in midfield but was booked and later replaced by James Milner, while changes like Kaoru Mitoma coming on for Brajan Gruda aimed to boost the flanks. Up front, Georginio Rutter started before Charalampos Kostoulas took over, and Danny Welbeck replaced Jack Hinshelwood to try and force an impact.

Hugo Ekitiké earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match award for his brace, scoring twice without registering assists, big chances created, or key passes. His early goal set the tone, and the second on the hour confirmed Liverpool’s dominance, showcasing his finishing ability in a game where clinical moments mattered. Ekitiké started the match but was substituted off at 78’ for Alexander Isak after making his mark.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
• Draw: 3-3 vs Leeds United (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Sunderland (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs West Ham United (A)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Nottingham Forest (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Liverpool (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs West Ham United (H)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Aston Villa (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Nottingham Forest (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Brentford (H)

Liverpool have just beaten Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, moving them to sixth place on 26 points after a run that includes a draw with Leeds United, a stalemate against Sunderland, and a win over West Ham United, though they suffered a home defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier. This solid performance sets them up for their next fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on 2025-12-20 at 17:30, with Spurs currently 11th on 22 points. A win could help Liverpool push for European spots, building on their recent upturn in form.

Brighton & Hove Albion have just lost 2-0 to Liverpool, leaving them ninth on 23 points following a draw with West Ham United, a defeat to Aston Villa, and wins over Nottingham Forest and Brentford in their recent outings. They’ll look to bounce back in their next match against Sunderland on 2025-12-20 at 15:00, with the Black Cats sitting 10th on 23 points. Three points here would be crucial for Brighton to climb the mid-table and regain consistency after this setback.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.