Liverpool boss Klopp: Brighton draw feels like defeat

Posted Sunday, October 31, 2021 by Tribalfootball.com

Brighton came from two goals down to secure a deserved point and deny Liverpool victory in an incident-packed game at Anfield.

Captain Jordan Henderson fired the Reds ahead from 18 yards moments after Alisson had denied Solly March at the other end following Leandro Trossard's defence-splitting pass.

Yves Bissouma, making his first start since 19 September after recovering from a knee injury, then had an effort tipped on to the post before Sadio Mane headed Liverpool into a 2-0 lead after a cross by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, on for the injured Naby Keita.

Brighton's comeback started through Enock Mwepu's first Premier League goal, a stunning attempt from 25 yards which deceived Alisson.

Graham Potter's side were impressive and they equalised when Trossard slotted home after an assist by former Liverpool player Adam Lallana.

In an entertaining game, Mane and Mohamed Salah both found the back of the net either side of half-time, but both attempts were ruled out for handball and offside respectively.

In a tense finale, Brighton thought they had won it when Trossard scored in front of The Kop, but it was ruled out for offside.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp later said, "It feels like a defeat. It's not only because we were 2-0 up and not winning, it's because the game I saw, we scored two of the most beautiful goals I've ever seen us score, which were disallowed.

"The pressing goal for Sadio was just unlucky, if you want to teach pressing, you would show this situation. But disallowed for handball, I guess.

"Top moments in the first half where we showed how we can hurt Brighton, played some top passes through the centre and played really good football but were only 2-0.

"In the second half, we were not good enough. The body language I didn't like it all. It was like 'oh my God, it's really tough'. Yeah, it was clear before the game.

"The best way to defend Brighton is to have the ball yourself and play in the spaces where they are exposed, but we didn't do that and that's a problem."