No Maupay, no problem. Brighton secured a credible result this afternoon away at Anfield against Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool as the Reds are already well off the Premier League title race as new Seagulls tactician Roberto De Zerbi picked up a point in his managerial debut in the wake of Graham Potter’s departure to Chelsea.
The 43-year-old native of Brescia achieved notoriety during impressive stints with US Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk before his arrival at the American Express Community Stadium on 18 September and looks to continue to build on the groundwork laid by Potter after a valuable point away from home was secured on the back of a hat-trick performance by Belgian international Leandro Trossard.
Despite Neal Maupay’s departure to Everton during the summer transfer window and striker signing Deniz Undav failing to adapt to life in the Premier League at the current moment, the 27-year-old forward bagged his first three-goal performance for the Seagulls since his arrival in the summer of 2019 and has now become the first player since Andrey Arshavin back in 2009 to score three goals at Anfield.
Leandro Trossard is the first player to score a hat trick against Liverpool at Anfield since Andrey Arshavin in 2009 🍿 pic.twitter.com/9aAqDhx2bq
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 1, 2022
Though the Russian star went on to smash four goals on that famous night for the Arsenal winger, one that is still fondly remembered by its support, Trossard was unable to equal that overall feat this afternoon but was nevertheless similarly influential for the visitors in a result that temporarily keeps Brighton in fourth spot in the Premier League table and dreaming of European football next season despite the current 2022-23 campaign still being early doors.
With five goals in the league to his name already in just seven appearances this term, Trossard has already equaled his second-best goal output going into his fourth season at the club after he scored five goals in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
His eight-goal haul in 2021-22 across 34 appearances is well in sight for the Maasmechelen native, with plenty of motivation given the 2022 World Cup in Qatar just around the corner and a possible starting place for Roberto Martinez’s Belgian side up for grabs in less than two months time.
