Chris Hughton believes Albion would have endured a difficult afternoon at Anfield today, irrespective of the side he selected.

Hughton freshened the team up with four changes to the team beaten 3-1 at Manchester City on Wednesday as the Seagulls lost 4-0 to rampant Liverpool.

Bruno and Pascal Gross were rested, Jose Izquierdo missed out with a minor thigh injury and Leo Ulloa was relegated to the bench after scoring at City.

Hughton drafted in Ezequiel Schelotto, Beram Kayal, Solly March and record signing Jurgen Locadia for his first Premier League start as a centre-forward.

Hughton told The Argus: "My thinking was, particularly with the way Liverpool play - they press well - I just thought we needed a little bit more pace in the team.

"That was my reason. Part of Jurgen was it was a good opportunity for him. A difficult game but a really good opportunity for him, because he is one that has settled in really well.

"His time, I think, will be next season. We'll have a real good pre-season with him. We just thought the type of runs he makes we might benefit from it and also Kayal is perhaps a little more dynamic in that midfield area. We thought we might capitalise from it.

"I don't think on a day like today the team selection is a question. Whatever team we put out today it would have been a very difficult afternoon."