Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler claimed his side were the only team who "really tried to create and win" despite a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
Quickfire first-half goals settled the clash at Anfield. Florian Wirtz's effort went in off Pascal Gross for an own goal before Alexander Isak tucked in Bradley Barcola's cross four minutes later.
Yasin Ayari fired Brighton's best chance over the crossbar before striking the post with another attempt. The Seagulls could not respond to the early blitz and suffered just their second defeat in 13 games across all competitions this season.
Possession and chances
Hurzeler's side boasted 64 per cent possession and had 1.35 xG to Liverpool's 0.87 xG, but could not make it count, registering just one shot on target to the Reds' four.
"Everyone in the stadium saw that there was one team who really tried to create and try to win this game and therefore I have to praise my players," Hurzeler said. "Everyone in the stadium felt there was a missed opportunity for us, because it's not only after the goal or the goals they scored."
"Also, before they scored, we had one, two big chances and today I think it was just the difference that they scored, we didn't score."
Manager reaction
"Overall I saw a team with a lot of good things to take away. I saw a team that really had the belief in our approach, that stuck to the match plan, that always kept going, and that is very frustrating because we all have the feeling that there is a missed opportunity here today," he added.
Brighton remain third in the Premier League, a point ahead of Liverpool, whose fourth straight win in all competitions moved them up to fourth place.
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said: "I think we had today a very good opposition in front, similar to Villarreal the other day – teams that technically are really good. It's difficult to defend them a lot of times."
Key to victory
"I think today the key was how we started. We needed a stronger start, be aggressive, recover the ball, win our duels, be dangerous in transitions," he said.
"I think we've done it and it has been a different game from the last ones, where we've conceded first and after you need a comeback. Today, I think we've started better and the game has gone differently."
Isak netted his sixth goal of the season and earned some individual praise from his manager. "He's a striker if we can put him in those positions, we can provide him with crosses, good situations, he will score the goals," he said. "I think it's a matter of, in this case, Bradley winning the duel, going one-v-one, being faster than the opposition and finding good spots."
