Brighton striker Joao Pedro’s surprise absence against Liverpool has now been explained by a reported training ground bust up.
The Brazilian striker was expected to feature in the 3-2 victory but was nowhere to be seen due to the fallout from a fight with defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
The Athletic claim that the incident actually took place over a week earlier, showing how severe the ramifications were.
Sources told the outlet it happened in training the week before a 2-0 away win over Wolves on May 10, at least ten days before the home victory over Liverpool.
Pedro missed that fixture due to a three-game suspension handed down for lashing out at Brentford’s Nathan Collins on April 19.
It was the last of his ban, meaning he was back available against Arne Slot’s Premier League champions, but Fabian Hurzeler revealed he wouldn’t take part due to ‘private reasons’.
Post-match, the German coach was asked if Pedro or Tariq Lamptey would return for the season finale away against Tottenham on May 25 and replied: “We have to see.
“T has an injury with his knee and Joao had private reasons why he was not available. So, let’s see how it is going to continue.”
On the other end of the altercation, Dutch defender Van Hecke played the full 90 minutes against both Wolves and Liverpool.
Pedro, 23, joined the Seagulls from Watford in 2023 for a then-club record £30million.
He’s their joint-top scorer this season in the Premier League with ten goals, and led the scoring overall last campaign with 20.
Overall he has 30 goals in 70 games, and has been regularly linked with a move up the table, including to Liverpool, as well as Newcastle.
Pedro’s initial Brentford red card was the first of his career, and kept at three games as it was deemed violent conduct.
Yet in the reverse fixture against the Bees at home on December 27, he was deemed lucky not to have been sent off already for an attempted elbow that just missed Yehor Yarmoliuk.
Responding at the time rival manager Thomas Frank said: “As I understand the rules, you can’t swing an arm to hit someone, whether you hit them or not.
“That’s why we have got VAR. It happened, we have to make it [VAR] better in the future.”
Pedro wasn’t missed against Liverpool as Brighton twice came back from a goal down to keep their hopes of European football next season alive.
Assessing his team’s situation, Hurzeler said: “There have been a lot of highs and lows throughout the season.
“It is important you don’t overreact and it is important to stay grounded and humble because there is still one game to go. But I’m really proud of the team.
“It’s not only about playing a football game and the tactical side but it’s about the mental side too. We only can be successful if you stick together and we proved that so we are very happy.
“The players changed the intensity on the pitch. They used the goal as the wake-up signal. Liverpool were impressive in the first 20 minutes but I was happy with the reaction.”
