Liverpool 3-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
by James Nalton 
at Anfield

BRIGHTON enjoyed an eventful start to life under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Belgian winger Leandro Trossard scored a hat-trick as the visitors created a number of good chances and maintained their position in the top four after Saturday’s games.

For Liverpool, it was a continuation of their disappointing start to the season and Jurgen Klopp’s side went two goals down within 20 minutes. A Roberto Firmino brace got them back into the game before they took the lead via an own goal from Adam Webster.

But they were unable to hang on to claim their third Premier League win of the season as Trossard netted his third in the 83rd minute in front of a deflated Kop.

Some of the Brighton fans joined in as Liverpool fans sang “F*** the Tories”, while pockets of Liverpool fans joined the Brighton end in applauding Trossard off the pitch when he was replaced by Tariq Lamptey shortly after his hat-trick goal. An acknowledgement of his clinical display of finishing.

De Zerbi said a win for his side wouldn’t have been undeserved, and acknowledged the platform that has been put in place by previous head coach Graham Potter who recently left for Chelsea.

“It was a crazy game,” said the Italian. “I am happy and proud of my players and my club.

“There was a possibility to win the game but Liverpool are a fantastic team. If we had won the game I wouldn’t have felt like we had stolen anything here.

“I don’t know if I’m a good coach but I’m a brave one and I have to give credit to Graham Potter who has put together a very good squad.”

Liverpool look a shadow of their former selves. They now look like a normal Premier League side rather than one that can challenge Manchester City or Arsenal at the top of the table.

It’s difficult to believe this is the same side that were on course for a possible quadruple towards the end of last season, only a matter of months ago.

They ended the 2021/22 season with a League Cup and FA Cup, and cup competitions may be their only chance of silverware this season following this poor start to their league campaign.

De Zerbi, meanwhile, believes there is even more to come from Belgium international Trossard.

“Trossard played a great game with two fantastic goals and the third was very difficult but he took the chance very well,” he said. “But I believe he can do even better because I consider him a great, great player.”

The 27-year-old will hope he can continue in this vein for Brighton as the season goes on, and will hope to take this form with him to the World Cup with Belgium.