Five things: losing streak continues and Sanchez form is cause for concern
Diaz 19, Salah 61pen
Klopp’s men in recent fixtures.
Albion’s previous three fixtures against Liverpool have seen them draw, win and draw.
These positive results could be put largely down to Potter getting his tactics right, whether it be using
Dan Burn as a target man to beat The Reds’ intense press or instructing the pacey Aaron Connolly to get in behind the Liverpool’s high line there has always been tactical nous.
On Saturday, though, the plan never came to fruition. Glenn Hoddle on the BT Sport commentary described Brighton as ‘all over the place and apprehensive in their passing’.
Albion started well in the first 15 minutes, pressing Liverpool and forcing mistakes, but that energy wore off quickly and Liverpool took control from there on out.
Ropey Sanchez
Brighton’s Spanish keeper has been a liability of late. He’s looked a bit ropey and not half as good as he did when he entered the fold back in 2019.
He was very lucky not to have been sent off after recklessly clattering into Luis Diaz, who nodded past the keeper to score Liverpool’s opener. Fans, pundits, and the commentary team alike were left wondering how Sanchez evaded any punishment for what was a horrendous challenge.
Gary Neville even tweeted saying: “Got to be a red card!”.
It was a poor decision from Sanchez, he could have easily left his team down to 10-men after just 25 minutes.
WhoScored.com stats According to football website WhoScored.com, Albion were: poor at finishing, aggressive, and gave away a lot of free-kicks around the box.
It’s the same old story with Albion in terms of finishing. You have got to take your chances against clubs like Liverpool but they didn’t.
Leandro Trossard had a great opportunity early on in the second half to equalise but blazed his effort way over Alisson’s bar. And Danny Welbeck’s close range shot went straight down Alisson’s throat.
It could have been a different story if one of them went in but, as Potter said after the game, “it is what it is”.
Do Albion need a recognised, injury free, out and out striker this summer? I think they do. But who?
Reminder not to panic Despite the poor run of form, there’s no doubt Albion are onto a winner with this group of players under one of the best managers in the league.
The club has always said this is a long-term project and that needs to be remembered.
Albion have come a long way under Potter and they are not far off breaking into that top 10.
Wage bills are said to determine where each club should finish, there or thereabouts. Brighton’s wage bill is reportedly 15th in the league, so anything above a 15th placed finish should be seen as a positive.