ALBION boss Chris Hughton has refused to blame Pascal Gross for the narrow defeat by Liverpool.

Hughton says the German, who gave away the decisive penalty, remains a key player for the Seagulls as he strives to recapture the heights of last season.

Gross conceded Mo Salah's decisive penalty for the Premier League leaders early in the second half at the Amex when he was left one-on-one with the Egyptian inside the box and tugged his right shoulder.

Hughton admitted he did not want Gross, who operates as No.10 or an attack-minded midfielder, in that predicament.

"No and probably the only disappointment is he needed help," Hughton told The Argus. "Mo Salah is probably the best in the country in one-on-one situations, that close to goal, getting it onto his left foot.

"It was hard for Pascal and I certainly apportion no blame. When you are in that position you need some help."

Gross, player of the season last year with seven goals and eight assists, had almost three months out with ankle ligament damage earlier in the season.

Hughton said: "He's playing a little bit of a different position to before (in a three-man midfield), but we know what Pascal gives us.

"He covers big distances and shows good quality. We are still looking at a player that had a couple of our best chances, still provided us with a good few crosses into the box.

"He is somebody that is still performing for us. And he's had a period of time out and it's normal stuff."

Gross tried to cushion a header to a team-mate and then had a side-footed effort deep inside the box blocked in Albion's quest for an equaliser.

"Ironically it was Pascal who probably had our best couple of chances," Hughton said. "The one where he's headed it back I thought he could have brought it down. Credit to him. The disappointment of giving away the penalty didn't affect his game, he got on with it.

"He ended up having probably our best chance."