Liverpool 2-2 Brighton: Mwepu tops the ratings for second game running
The Computer is quite good, isn’t he? For the second game running, Enock Mwepu scored and topped the WAB Player Ratings as Brighton produced a famous comeback to draw 2-2 with in-form Liverpool at Anfield.
It looked like a long afternoon was in store when the Reds motored 2-0 ahead inside of 24 minutes. Things nearly got even worse when a catastrophic error from Robert Sanchez gifted Liverpool a third, only for VAR to take a look and spot a handball from Sadio Mane.
The Albion made the most of that reprieve, turning the deficit around to secure a share of the spoils. Both Brighton goals came the Albion’s two best players on the day, Mwepu notching the first and Leandro Trossard the second as the Kop was stunned into silence.
Even Jurgen Klopp was moved to praise the Seagulls for their performance, an unusual step from a man who has previously blamed a gust of wind, the length of the grass and BT Sport when his side have failed to win.
That Klopp could find no excuse and simply had to admire Brighton for their work spoke volumes about what a showing the Albion put in once the first half hour was out of the way.
Unsurprisingly, that means there are plenty of high scores, with seven of the starting XI achieving a mark of seven or above. Here are your Liverpool 2-2 Brighton player ratings.
Robert Sanchez – 5.92
Needs to add Kevin Friend to his Christmas card list for sparing his blushes when disallowing Mane’s effort after he got in a total mess from Lewis Dunk’s back pass. A mistake to learn from for the young goalkeeper, who also showed the positive side of what he can do with the ball at his feet with a 60 yard raking pass forward in the build up to Trossard’s equaliser.
Joel Veltman – 6.83
Used as an orthodox right back as Graham Potter reverted to a back four. Nothing got past him as he was his normal calm self defensively. Interesting to see Tariq Lamptey introduced in front of him on the right side of midfield, suggesting that Potter may yet find room for both in the same line up.
Shane Duffy – 6.67
Lost Mane for the second Liverpool goal, allowing the Senegalese forward a free header. Looked pretty assured other than that despite concerns over how he would cope with a side who press as aggressively as the Reds. Made one very important block from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Lewis Dunk – 7.00
A classic Lewis Dunk performance from the Brighton skipper. Headed away everything and blocked several goal bound efforts. The only black mark against his name was that poor pass to Sanchez on his own goal line to put the Albion goalkeeper under unnecessary pressure.
Marc Cucurella – 7.67
Played a major role in ensuring that Mo Salah failed to score in a game for the first time since August. Liverpool fans were sent into a frenzy by the Albion Twitter account posting about him pocketing Salah in a fantastic piece of trolling. Played his part in the equaliser too, linking up nicely with Adam Lallana after receiving Sanchez’s pinpoint ball forward.
Yves Bissouma – 7.67
Got through an hours work on his first start since injuring a knee in the 2-1 win over Leicester City last month. Very few signs of rust despite such a long lay off and he came close to opening his account for the season when Alisson tipped a distance drive onto the post.
Adam Lallana – 7.42
Afforded a fantastic reception by the Liverpool crowd and he responded by showing them that he still has the ability that made him such a danger during his time at Anfield. Forced Alisson into a good save and played the pass to release Trossard for the Albion’s second goal. He makes football look effortless.
Jakub Moder – 6.67
Just like in last week’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, he covered a lot of ground but struggled to make much impact. A few calls for him to be dropped as a result, but those seem to disregard the quality of the opposition Brighton have faced in their past two matches.
ENOCK MWEPU – 8.75
Bill Gates can only dream of creating an operating system as good as The Computer. His goal was a work of art, spotting Alisson off his line and beating him with a dipping shot from a full 30 yards. Whilst that understandably took the headlines, his game was about so much more – work rate, the ability to find space between Liverpool’s defence and midfield and always knowing what to do with the ball. Looks like the real deal.
Solly March – 7.25
Handed a role with far more freedom than we are used to seeing him have in his normal left wing back berth. That he can mix two differing jobs so seamlessly tells you what a versatile, clever footballer he is. Another Brighton played to be denied a goal by Alisson when the Liverpool number one pulled off a fine early save.
Leandro Trossard – 8.50
A deserved second place in the Liverpool 2-2 Brighton ratings for arguably his best performance of the season. Thrived as a false nine with the Liverpool defence never sure whether to follow him as he dropped deep or let him get on with it. It was from one such instance that his goal arrived, scored with the sort of composed finish you rarely associate with Albion forwards these days. Produced an equally clinical effort, only to be correctly flagged offside later on.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6.83
Potter threw him on for Bissouma for the final 30 minutes, giving him another opportunity to show what he can do in a deeper role. Linked play well as the Albion finished the game on top.
Tariq Lamptey – 7.42
You obviously do not need telling, but young Lamptey is some player. Introduced on the right side of midfield for the final 25 minutes, he tormented Andrew Robertson during his time on the pitch. And Robertson is meant to be one of the finest left backs in the world…
Pascal Gross – 6.42
Arrived late in the day when Lallana was substituted. Not much time to make an impression from open play but he still managed to swing over a couple of dangerous set pieces as Brighton went in search of a winner.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via Twitter. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
