Alexander Isak scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, the club’s first league win at home this season against the Premier League’s in-form side.
It has been a long road for the Sweden striker. He arrived from Newcastle in August 2025 for a British record £125m, but a slow start and a broken leg in December made his first season a difficult one. He scored just four goals in 22 games. This season has been different. The 27-year-old is averaging almost a goal per game and has scored more than half of Liverpool’s Premier League goals. Only Erling Haaland, with nine, has scored more league goals this season.
Isak did not dominate the game, but his strike gave Liverpool breathing room against a Brighton side that had 64% possession and finished with a higher xG than Liverpool. The goal was another crucial one, following his winner at Brentford the previous weekend.
A disciplined display
Liverpool were aggressive from the start and defended well to keep Brighton, who had scored 15 league goals in their previous four games, away from goal. Apart from an early effort from Yasin Ayari, which he blazed over, Brighton created no major chances. Ronald Araujo was again outstanding, and the backline recorded its fourth clean sheet in eight league games this season.
Liverpool had just 35.6% possession, their second lowest in a Premier League home win since 2003-04. The result suggested that with the quality Liverpool have in attack, they can be comfortable letting opponents have the ball, especially when those teams do not sit in a deep defensive block.
Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola were excellent, and Cody Gakpo threatened throughout. Wirtz was unlucky not to be credited with the opener, as his shot deflected off Pascal Gross and put Liverpool ahead. Barcola then won the possession that led to Isak’s goal, showing the high press and desire to win the ball back that Iraola wants.
Concern over Wirtz
Wirtz was substituted in the second half after twisting his ankle. Iraola said the injury did not look serious, but Liverpool play every three days, so the club needs to assess his condition before making a decision.
The win was Iraola’s fourth in a row since the defeat to Manchester City at Anfield a fortnight earlier, and it lifted Liverpool into fourth place. Next up is Arsenal. Liverpool’s two key attacking signings cost the club a combined £248m, and if Isak, Barcola and Wirtz keep combining and winning games, that investment will look well spent.