Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was left spellbound by the electric atmosphere at Anfield, despite enduring a tough introduction as his team faced Liverpool. The Seagulls were on top during the first half but only managed to net once through Ferdi Kadioglu.
However, Liverpool staged a stunning comeback with Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah scoring within two minutes of each other.
Reflecting on the match, Hurzeler, the youngest Premier League manager, remarked: “The performance was easily good enough to win this game, especially the first half,” and added, “We got a little bit distracted by the atmosphere and these things are important for the results.”
He also shared his personal experience: “I only experienced this atmosphere on the television so far and now in person, and these moments we needed to stay calm. We had solutions but we couldn’t find them and the Liverpool dominance became bigger.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged his team’s shaky start but praised their second-half resurgence, which could be crucial in the title chase after rivals Arsenal and Manchester City suffered losses. Van Dijk conceded: “You could see it in the first half. We didn’t press well and were sloppy in possession. It was a well deserved 1-0 at the break,” but he believed, “We had completely different energy after the break and got what we deserved I think.”
Reds manager Arne Slort echoed Van Dijk’s sentiments, celebrating the victory that marked his eighth win in ten Premier League games at the helm, yet he did not shy away from criticising the team’s initial performance before their remarkable recovery.
The Dutch manager reflected on the game’s dynamics, admitting: “We needed another second-half performance but because we were outplayed in the first half,” and acknowledged, “They were better on the ball, more aggressive without the ball. Then, everything changed in the second half because it was completely the opposite.”
He praised his team’s turnaround, noting: “Our attackers scored the goals but the main difference was we were better positioned and we had the ball a lot more. Without the ball they made problems for us but in the second half we just kept running.”
Commenting on leading the league, he remarked: “Brighton are a very strong team as well, they have shown this season. If you face a team like this and are 1-0 down and can come back to a 2-1 win which in my opinion was deserved that gives me a lot of confidence. More than the position we are in.”
