Liverpool news: Isak and Araujo deliver 2-0 win over Brighton as Wirtz scare eases

Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday to record a fourth straight victory in all competitions and, more importantly, a first home league win of the campaign. Iraola made four changes to his starting line-up and got the response he wanted, with the team grinding out a result he described as 'very valuable'.

The Match of the Day pundits Toby Alderweireld and Ashley Williams were taken with the attacking display, and Isak said afterwards he was 'delighted' with the win.

Fabricio Hürzeler's post-match claim that only 'one team' tried to create was a swipe at Liverpool's approach, though it read more like a compliment than he intended. United's own result elsewhere in the afternoon drew a reaction around Anfield too, with the home crowd enjoying the day all the more.

Iraola's programme notes had promised the side would 'go all in again', and they did.

Ronald Araujo was the story of the afternoon, dominating Brighton's forwards and producing one piece of audacious defending in front of the Kop that had Anfield roaring.

Iraola singled him out afterwards, praising the way the defender responded to what the manager called tough calls on selection, and the Player of the Match vote is open for supporters to have their say.

The Uruguayan's loan option is starting to look like one of the more significant decisions the club will face at the end of the season. The official post-match podcast carries interviews and analysis from the ground, and the free highlights are up if you want to watch the defending again.

Four wins on the spin has changed the temperature around the place. It is early, but the side is building something.

Florian Wirtz was forced off during the win over Brighton, and Iraola confirmed afterwards that the playmaker is a doubt for Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea. The early word from the manager is encouraging: he is confident the injury is not serious.

Even so, losing Wirtz for any length of time would be a blow to a side that has just found its attacking rhythm, and the Carabao Cup tie is exactly the sort of game where a manager would rather choose to rest him than be forced into it. The club will assess him over the next 48 hours.

Nobody at Anfield will be panicking yet, but this is the name to watch before the Chelsea team news drops.

Liverpool are reported to be ready to move for a new right-back, and Iraola is said to be a big admirer of the target. The club is also reportedly working towards a deal for an in-demand France international that could reach €90m, which would be a statement of intent rather than a patch job.

On the other side of the ledger, one outlet argues Liverpool must agree a deal as soon as possible because their current plan is a recipe for disaster. It is worth remembering how much of this is noise in late October.

But the right-back link has enough behind it to take seriously, given how the manager wants his full-backs to play.

Rio Ngumoha has been earmarked as Liverpool's next Raheem Sterling, a comparison that carries weight given the club's record of bringing through young attackers. At 17 he is still finding his way into senior minutes, but the talent is obvious and the academy production line keeps rolling.

Elsewhere, one opinion piece argues Iraola has to let a Liverpool legend go, that it is over. Sentiment does not pick the team, and a manager four wins into a run has earned the right to make the hard call. These are the decisions that define a season's shape more than any single result.