Graham Potter prepared to navigate errors as Brighton pursue new style
![Graham Potter File Photo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ocCZgLgccgUyK5kfYgi6v5-1200-80.jpg)
Graham Potter insists Brighton can learn from their mistakes after being branded “naive in the extreme” by Graeme Souness for attempting to play out of defence during the defeat to Liverpool.
Albion fell two goals behind inside eight minutes against the Premier League champions on Wednesday evening following sloppy individual errors deep inside their own territory.
Sky Sports pundit Souness, who briefly managed Potter when he was a Southampton player in 1996, was baffled by the Seagulls’ risky tactics in the early stages of the 3-1 loss.
Brighton boss Potter looks unlikely to compromise his footballing philosophy going into Saturday’s clash with second-placed Manchester City but accepts there is definite room for improvement.
“I can understand his points. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” Potter said in response to Souness’ comments.
“The challenge is for us to be better at recognising situations.
“You look at the opposition we are playing against and how ever you play against them they’ve got a solution. The evidence is with the points they’ve got this year, the points they got last year.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
“Maybe you can kick it long for 20, 30, 40, 50 minutes and eventually start to play but there’s no solution there either because I’m sure teams have tried that as well.
“We want to try and improve that aspect of our performance and sometimes how you do that is by making mistakes, by testing yourself against the very best and that’s what we did.
“But clearly we have to improve as well.”
Brighton midfielder Davy Propper was caught dawdling in possession ahead of Mohamed Salah’s opener before defender Adam Webster overran the ball in the build up to Jordan Henderson’s second.
Albion grew into the game and deservedly halved the deficit through Leandro Trossard’s thumping half-volley but were unable to salvage anything after Salah to put the result beyond doubt with his second.
Belgian winger Trossard, who claimed the decisive goal in last week’s 1-0 win at bottom Norwich, was a major positive for Albion, causing the visitors plenty of problems during a lively display.
Potter believes there is more to come from the former Genk captain as he continues to adapt to the top flight.
“I think he is (improving). He’s landed from a different country into a new team, into a new environment, so it’s normal that he adapts. It’s a process,” said Potter.
“He’s got a stronger understanding of us, we understand him a bit more, there’s more to come from him.
“But it’s nice that he’s affecting the goal, it’s nice that he’s contributing to the team in terms of assists and goals.”
Brighton remain nine points clear of the relegation zone, albeit having played a game more than both 18th-placed Aston Villa and second-bottom Bournemouth.
They have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the meeting with Pep Guardiola’s City.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack