Liverpool's 2-0 Victory Over Brighton: Ekitike Comes Up Big and Slot Looks Sharp
13 December 2025
Match Report
Dutch manager Arne Slot was clearly pleased after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton, praising the visitors as a tough opponent and acknowledging his side’s hard work and discipline. The response in the stands suggested a team that had delivered after a patch of inconsistent results.
Liverpool halted their recent winless run in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory at Anfield on Saturday, as the pair met in the 16th round, with the crowd roaring the opener from the hosts.
French forward Hugo Ekitike struck twice, first minute and again in the 60th minute, providing a swift lead and a display of his growing confidence in the Liverpool shirt.
Slot told BBC that his players had put in a lot of work and deserved the win, especially given the opposition’s relentless pressing and stubborn resistance.
For the first time in weeks, he admitted Liverpool had perhaps been a touch fortunate at times, but stressed the importance of a clean sheet and avoiding defensive lapses that had haunted them earlier in the season.
In the second half, Brighton pressed higher up the pitch, yet Liverpool stayed compact around the box and still carved out several dangerous counters to seal the result.
Slot also praised the team's mentality, noting how injuries and other factors made the win feel earned rather than gifted, a reminder that sometimes a little good fortune helps when you’re digging in.
Regarding Ekitike, Slot called the goals beautiful moments and a reminder why Liverpool pursued him, alongside progress shown by the other summer signings who have started to repay the faith.
He lauded Florian Wirtz as well, pointing to his touch, growing confidence and the steady improvement in his form as a signal of deeper squad enhancement.
Slot finished by hoping for a rest week to regain fitness and give the squad extra time on the training pitch, because even champions need a spring-clean now and then.
This result lifts Liverpool to sixth on 26 points, while Brighton remain ninth on 23, leaving plenty to play for in the remainder of the campaign.
Punchline: If football were a sniper’s test, Ekitike’s two shots would score a perfect headshot—swift, precise, and somehow leaving the defense ducking for cover.
Punchline 2: And Slot’s post-match calm? It’s so chill that even the coffee steam seems to write the BBC quotes for him.
