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Liverpool 2-0 Brighton Player Ratings and Fan Reaction
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- Liverpool 2-0 Brighton Player Ratings and Fan Reaction
(IMAGO / Sports Press Photo)
Brighton and Hove Albion were stopped by a strong Liverpool side at Anfield yesterday afternoon. A game where both sides had their moments, and the Seagulls are forced to look back on missed opportunities to improve the game.
With that said, though, Liverpool did a good job on Albion. Limiting their shots from distance and opportunities inside the box.
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Let's take a look through each player in blue and white yesterday and give them a rating /10...
Starting XI Ratings...
Bart Verbruggen - 9
The Dutchman had a very good game and kept the Seagulls within touching distance of a result on many occasions. It has taken its time, but it truly feels like we have a shot stopper in goal who gives the rest of the backline and fans more confidence.
Verbruggen made some strong saves, and without him, the scoreline could have been much worse!
Ferdi Kadioglu - N/A
It is impossible to give our Turkish full-back a fair rating, as he was subbed off after only five minutes. Unfortunately, more bad memories for Kadioglu at Anfield. Let's hope it isn't anything too serious, as he was a big miss during that game.
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Lewis Dunk - 9.1
Arguably the best player on the pitch for the Albion. Making huge blocks and kept the Seagulls in the game, preventing a much worse scoreline. Dunk read the runs of Isak very well and stopped multiple goal-scoring opportunities, even in quick succession.
Still, Brighton's best defender.
Luka Vuskovic - 6.5
The Croatian had a mixed game. Caught out in the high line, but also made up for some past errors in the second half.
Vuskovic's pace can often let him down, and we saw this more regularly during the game. In fairness, a big credit to Liverpool, who exploited our weaknesses very well.
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Olivier Boscagli - 4.9
It wasn't the finest game for our converted left-back. Boscagli has had a good season, but has shown himself to struggle in games exactly like these. Direct, pacey and aggressive forwards tend to get the better of him. Sunderland showed similar signs, but Bradley Barcola was a different kettle of fish.
Not the best day at the office for Boscagli, who was rightly substituted at half time.
Yasin Ayari - 5
A rare poor game for Ayari. The usually reliable Swede struggled, and his early open-goal miss seemed to set the tempo for his overall game.
Ayari did hit the post with a good effort in the first half but was otherwise very frustrating. Not his best, but not his worst. A lot to learn.
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Chema Andrés - 5.5
Andrés struggled with the physicality of the midfield but was fairly good on the ball. A change felt imminent, and his suspected injury could have been a decisive moment for the Seagulls. Yalcouyé looked to add much more in the type of game it was.
Pascal Groß - 5.6
Not the finest game for Groß either, who contributed to the scoreline with an unfortunate own goal. A wicked deflection off Florian Wirtz after a poor clearance put Albion behind in a difficult game at Anfield.
His game didn't get much better, and it was one to forget for Groß.
Diego Gomez - 7.9
The Paraguayan didn't stop the game. Energetic and tried his best for the team. Gomez had a strange parallel in the game. A strange mixture of good and wasteful.
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On another day, he could've scored or assisted on a couple of goals. Just lacking in quality when it truly mattered.
Charalampos Kostoulas - 7.1
The Greek forward did well with what he was given from the midfield, although he was closed out well on the edge of the box by the Liverpool defence.
Some nice touches and moments on the ball, Kostoulas carved out opportunities when he could. We know he can finish chances clinically, but they never quite fell right for him.
Maxim De Cuyper - 6.5
A fairly quiet game for De Cuyper, who was forced to shift back into left-back after Boscagli's substitution. He was okay, and therefore gets a fair rating.
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Substitutions...
Costinha - 5
The Portuguese full-back struggled with Cody Gakpo for most of the game. Gakpo had the beating of him, but it was a very harsh game to be thrown into after Kadioglu's quick exit.
A lot to learn for Costinha, who is very new to life in the English top flight.
Georginio Rutter - 7
Georginio tried his best to get Alvion back in the game and seemed to be effective off the bench. Running to the byline and firing low crosses into the box worked fairly well.
While the Frenchman had an impact, it wasn't enough. However, there is a case to say that he should have been on the pitch far sooner, especially considering Ayari's poor game. Perhaps a chance for him to start over the next period.
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Malick Yalcouyé - 6.5
The Ivorian made a big difference off the bench too. Alongside Georgi, you could tell a big difference while he was on the pitch.
Yalcouyé is one of the best players to come through Albion's production line for a couple of years, and he caused Liverpool problems with his energy in midfield.
Jack Hinshelwood - 6
The Englishman was good and added some stability and better passing. In the same way as both Georgi and Yalcouyé, perhaps there is a case that they should all return to Albion's midfield.
