Liverpool 2 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion: 3 reasons why the Reds won the match | Premier League 2019-20

Virgil van Dijk and his teammates celebrate
Virgil van Dijk and his teammates celebrate

#1 Brighton & Hove Albion's defenders made a mess in critical moments

Virgil van Dijk scoring the opening goal for Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk scoring the opening goal for Liverpool

Though goalkeeper Matt Ryan was in inspired form during the fixture, dodgy defending from his teammates forced him to pick the ball out of his net two times in six minutes during the first half.

Apart from the usually reliable Lewis Dunk, other players in the visitors' backline failed to impress and barely held their own against the onslaught of attacks from Liverpool's front three.

Poor marking during set-pieces led them to concede two early goals, both similar in fashion and scored by the same player. Had the defenders communicated properly, they could've stopped at least the second goal, as they again left Van Dijk free in dangerous territory.

Brighton was unprepared for the side which has scored the most goals from headers this season. Van Dijk's brace took Liverpool's headed goals tally to 10 for the season so far.

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