Liverpool return to Premier League action on Sunday as they host Brighton following a 4-3 Champions League win over Villarreal

Liverpool have been told that they need to cut out ‘mistake after mistake’ against Brighton if they want to get a positive result from the game. The Reds came out as 4-3 winners over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but did have to come from behind to take all three points.

Georges Mikautadze scored in just the fourth minute to put Villarreal ahead, before Sergi Cardona got a second just before the half-hour mark. Liverpool did pull themselves level before half-time thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Ronald Araujo.

They completed the turnaround in the second half as Mac Allister scored again, and Florian Wirtz extended their lead. Villarreal did, though, make it a nervy finish as Tani Oluwaseyi scored with just three minutes remaining.

OPINION

The win means that Liverpool maintained their 100 per-cent record in the Champions League so far this season. They are back in Premier League action at the weekend as they take on high-flying Brighton at Anfield.

Ahead of that game, former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has warned Liverpool about their defensive vulnerability. Brighton currently sit in third place in the Premier League table.

Speaking to Betfair, he said: “I did the game on Tuesday at Anfield, and for thirty-five minutes they were as bad as I've seen them. Mistake after mistake after mistake. They found themselves 2-0 down, they couldn't find a pass, and they were far too open. They were really, really poor.

“Somehow, which is a good thing, without playing well, they somehow found a way back to two-all just before half-time. They had a very good last nine minutes of the first half and got back to two-all.

“The manager, obviously realising, changed things, put Gravenberch into right back, brought Virgil van Dijk on and in every department, they improved in the second half.

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“They were quicker to the ball, they closed people down. There were still one or two concerns defensively. I mean, it was an uncomfortable last three or four minutes because of Villarreal getting that late goal.

“They're going to have to improve massively defensively. I mean, they conceded three in the last Champions League game, they conceded three at home to Villarreal. Yet they've won three out of three in that competition. So, they're going all right in the league, but they've got a big test coming up, they've got some tough fixtures.

“They have Brighton up next in the league, and the way they are playing, the form they're in, they will exploit Liverpool if they play as open as they have been doing, because too many defensive mistakes, too much space in between and in behind the back ball. Brighton will definitely exploit that.”

One decision that Shearer would like to see Andoni Iraola make for the match is to start Rio Ngumoha. The 18-year-old was a standout player for against Villarreal, providing assists for two of the four goals.

Shearer believes that his performances should see him get the call ahead of big-money summer signings Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola, who cost a combined £157 million in the summer transfer window.

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Both have handed a fitness concern to Iraola ahead of the weekend. Munoz missed Thursday's training session, while Barcola trained away from the main group.

“Even in the first half an hour against Villarreal, he was the only player in a red shirt who was performing well,” Shearer said. “He was positive. He ran with his defender on toast. Everything he did was exciting, you know.

“We could hear the crowd. Every time he got the ball, there was an anticipation and a demand for him to get out the fullback. So, he was very good in the first half, but even better in the second half.

“I mean, some of his runs and his assist for Mac Allister was superb. The question is does he play him at the weekend against Brighton because of Munoz and because of Barcola? I think it would be a real shame if he didn't after that performance. I know the calibre of those two, but if it was me, I'd leave him in there. I think he deserves to start at this weekend.

“They've got a phenomenal talent there, and I know he's only eighteen years of age, but there's just something about giving a youngster the freedom to go and play and do what he wants. I know the pressures, and I know what comes next, and the demand is that you've got to be on the pitch on a regular basis, which then becomes tough, you know.”