Liverpool not in title race, says Andrew Robertson as Jurgen Klopp blames mental fatigue for shock Brighton loss

Premier League champions fail to score for third straight home game and are seven points behind leaders Manchester City having played one game more

LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Caoimhin Kelleher – 7. The Irishman made good saves from Gross and Trossard late on after spending much of the match with nothing to do. He showed good instincts coming off his line when the back four were caught flat-footed. AP

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 4. Brighton made a concerted effort to put pressure on the full-back It paid off because the 22-year-old lost Burn on the back post before the goal and was not as effective as usual going forward. AFP

Nathaniel Phillips - 6. The 23-year-old looks more like a first-team player with every game. He was good in the air and can feel better about his performance than the majority of his teammates. EPA

Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain fills a gap in the centre of defence but leaves a bigger hole in midfield. His passing from the back was excellent but the team needs him to be pushed forward to a more natural position. EPA

Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot is nowhere near as dangerous going forward when Mane is not in the side. Brighton deployed March to keep the left-back occupied defensively and the tactic worked . AFP

Georginio Wijnaldum - 4. The Dutchman was lacking his usual vigour. He tried to drive forward but found it hard to generate much momentum. Withdrawn for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 64th minute after looking heavy-legged. AFP

Thiago Alcantara - 4. Another outing that failed to live up to expectations for the 29-year-old. His passing lacked adventure and he could not deal with the Brighton press. PA

James Milner - 4. A laboured display from the 35-year-old. He could never be criticised for a lack of commitment but workmanlike efforts like this are not enough against solid defensive sides when inspiration is required. PA

Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian missed chances in both halves but still looked the sharpest Liverpool attacker. Brighton were able to crowd him out on a disappointing outing. Getty Images

Roberto Firmino - 5. The Brazilian had to drop deep in search of the ball. He showed sparks of invention in the box in the second half. Replaced by Jones with 11 minutes to go after shooting wide with his last kick. AP

Xherdan Shaqiri - 3. The Swiss struggled to get involved wide on the left. He switched to the right in the second half but was no better. Replaced by Origi after 64 minutes. AP

SUBS: Divock Origi - 3. The Belgian joined the game with 26 minutes to go, replacing Shaqiri. He was unable to shake the Brighton defence out of their comfort zone. Poor. Reuters

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 4. Brought on to provide a bit of craft when Wijnaldum left the game with 26 minutes remaining, the 27-year-old never got to the pace of the action. He had one shot that did not trouble the goalkeeper. Getty Images

Curtis Jones - 5. Replaced Firmino with 11 minutes left. The 19-year-old could not influence the match against the massed ranks of defenders. AFP

BRIGHTON PLAYER RATINGS: Robert Sanchez - 5. The Spaniard was in his comfort zone for most of the game but one strange excursion after a cross in the final quarter-hour could have cost his team dearly. Showed safe hands from a stoppage-time corner. AFP

Ben White - 7. The 23-year old was disciplined and solid. He anticipated and closed down potential danger very quickly. Made sure Shaqiri was anonymous. Getty Images

Lewis Dunk - 8. A rock at the heart of the defence. The captain made repeated blocks and marshalled the side confidently even when they were under massive pressure. He made a telling block from Firmino. PA

Adam Webster - 8. The 26-year-old needed to be alert to deal with the threat of Salah. He was awake to the danger when Liverpool tried a clever free kick in the second half. No one read the game better. PA

Steven Alzate - 7. The 22-year-old closed down Thiago and was a big part of his team’s ferocious press. He was in the right position to score the winning goal, although the ball might have come off Trossard. Reuters

Pascal Gross - 7. The German showed clever movement and passing going forward and whipped in a nice cross for Maupay just before half time. He had a fine effort foiled by Kelleher in the second half. Reuters

Yves Bissouma - 8. The Malian patrolled the area in front of the back three effectively and distributed the ball well when in position to go forward. His late shot dipped over the bar and worried Kelleher. AP

Dan Burn - 7. The defender missed a first-half opportunity when he skied a shot over the bar. He looked to get forward against Alexander-Arnold and provided an excellent headed pull-back to set up the goal. AFP

Leandro Trossard - 7. The Belgian was strong running with the ball and the first line of defence when Liverpool had possession. He will feel he has a claim on the goal and he later went close to scoring a second. Substituted for Zeqiri with three minutes to go. Reuters

Neal Maupay - 7. The Frenchman held the ball up well and provided an outlet for an under-pressure defence. He was replaced by Connolly with seven minutes to go. Getty Images

Solly March - 7. The 26-year-old worked the line, helping out at the back and providing the cross that led to the goal. He limped off after 67 minutes and was replaced by Lallana. Reuters

SUBS: Adam Lallana - 6. Returned to his old Anfield stomping ground with 23 minutes left when March was forced off. He brought an injection of energy to the team. Getty Images

Aaron Connolly - 7. Came on for Maupay with seven minutes left and harassed the Liverpool defence in the closing stages. He proved adept at keeping possession and relieving the pressure. Reuters

Andi Zeqiri – 5. Replaced Trossard with three minutes to go. There were no alarms for the Swiss as the clock ran down to victory. AFP

Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson insists the Premier League champions are no longer in the title race after Wednesday's shock home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion saw the gap on the leaders widen.

Juergen Klopp's side failed to score for the third successive home league game and managed only one effort on target as they fell seven points behind table-toppers Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Liverpool host Pep Guardiola's men on Sunday and Robertson said his team need to find a way to rediscover their spark ahead of that clash.

"Any game against Manchester City is a big one," Robertson told reporters. "As this moment stands, we're not in the title race. We are seven points behind them and they have a game in hand.

"I'm sure they'd say the same if they were potentially 10 points behind. We need to get back to the Liverpool everyone knows.

"We're still a good team. We don't turn into a bad team overnight."

Liverpool have been hit by injuries to key players such as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and have seen a squad competing on multiple fronts stretched at times this season.

Klopp believes the defeat to Brighton was a result of mental fatigue.

"We played against really good opposition, that's clear," Klopp said. "We looked mentally not fresh. They deserved to win.

"We wanted to play better and more convincing. We lost too many balls in promising situations. I know the boys can play pass A to B but today B did not seem reachable.

"We had a really tough week. We were not fresh tonight and that's when you have to find a way."

Liverpool players Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara during the defeat to Brighton. Reuter

Considering Klopp's lack of options because of injuries to defenders, that is perhaps understandable, although new defensive signing Ben Davies was left as an unused substitute.

"The only explanation now is that we are a fatigued team, mentally more or less," Klopp said.

"We had our moments but they deserved to win. We had to defend with a lot of running, there is no formation in the world where you are always in the right place.

"The best way to defend against a team like that is to keep the ball yourself but we couldn't do it tonight. It has been a tough week and tonight it was not enough."

As far as looking ahead to the next match against in-form City, Klopp said: "City are flying and we have to find solutions."