Ryan: Manchester United and Liverpool performances a benchmark

The Seagulls defeated United 3-2 at the Amex last week and then lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday.

Albion now have back-to-back home matches, at home to Southampton in the Carabao Cup tomorrow and against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Ryan feels Brighton now have to match their showings against United and Liverpool for the remainder of the season.

He said: "We can take a lot of confidence (from the Liverpool performance).

“The manager said to us afterwards that it’s not often that you come to these sorts of places and you leave disappointed having lost the game because you feel you deserved better.

"But it's the fine margins at this level and in this competition. They have the players who can punish us when we make mistakes and the difference in the game today was probably we turned the ball over cheaply and they punished us with the goal.

"Anthony (Knockaert) had a chance from a mistake they made early in the second half - not that I'm blaming him or anything - but we weren't able to punish them.

"Pascal (Gross) had another great chance also at the end and Alisson makes a good save.

"After our disappointing start at Watford, we set a benchmark last week and we've maintained that and even bettered it a little bit from last week's performance.

"But we've got nothing to show for it unfortunately."

Asked if Albion have to use the past two performances as a benchmark now, Ryan said: "Definitely. We're not going to be accepting any excuses.

"We've come and done it against one of the in-form and best teams in the league.

"They proved that last year and they've proved it with their start to the season.

"We've come here and gave it everything we had. Our desperation in defending was outstanding from everyone and our application, attitude, competitiveness and everything like that, all of those boxes were ticked.

"It was just that one moment that gives us a sour feeling today."

Ryan made an excellent early save to deny Roberto Firmino and got a hand to Mohamed Salah's winning goal but the ball went in off the far post.

He said: "I'm a bit disappointed with the goal because I got a touch on it.

"When something like that happens it goes through your mind a bit more. If I'd kept it out, would the game have played out the same way?

"A 0-0 result here would have been great but we'll go back to the training ground and we'll work on it and if I'm needed in the future, hopefully I can be there."

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