Pedro was expected to return to action following a three-match suspension but was absent from the Liverpool clash.

Joao Pedro missed Brighton’s home win over Liverpool due to a reported training ground altercation with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Pedro, 23, was expected to be involved at the Amex Stadium having just become available again after a three-match suspension.

However, the Brazilian striker was absent from the matchday squad, with Brighton manager stating at full-time that this was down to “private reasons”.

The Athletic now claim Pedro was involved in an altercation with Seagulls defender Van Hecke head of their Premier League clash against Wolves on May 10, and was thus banished from the team for their meeting with Liverpool.

He was also not involved in their trip to Molineux, but was serving the final game of a suspension he was handed for violent conduct against Brentford.

Van Hecke, meanwhile, kept his place in the lineup and played the full 90 minutes against Arne Slot’s side. The Dutchman has been a mainstay under Hurzeler, featuring in 33 of Brighton’s 37 league games, and was this month voted both the club’s supporters’ and players’ player of the season.

Speaking on a potential return for Pedro, Hurzeler said: “We have to see. Joao had private reasons why he was not available. Let’s see how it is going to continue.”

The Brazil international, who joined the Seagulls for a then-club record fee of £30m in 2023, is Brighton’s joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 10 goals and has made 30 appearances across all competitions.

His contract runs until 2028 but whether this dispute can be solved is yet to be seen, with there now speculation that Pedro could be shipped off in the summer.