Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah after the interval delivered the Reds all three points in a game that was very much of two halves. And with Manchester City losing to Bournemouth, Arne Slot’s troops are now top of the pile after 10 games.
Liverpool mustered the first chance on goal through a piece of individual quality from Darwin Nunez. He burst forward from the halfway line into the Brighton box but his shot was saved by the sprawling goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Yet it was the visitors who were livelier on the whole and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute when Fedri Kadioglu’s arrowed shot whistled into the far corner via the post.
Brighton engineered a gilt-edged opportunity to double their advantage 12 minutes later when Kadioglu was set free but he was denied by a smart save from Reds keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
That man Kadioglu would be presented with another golden chance when he was picked out for a third time, but fired a volley over the crossbar. The Seagulls were soaring and Danny Welbeck flashed a free-kick not too far wide in the 41st minute. In truth, Liverpool needed the half-time whistle when it went and were fortunate to only be a goal behind.
Whatever Slot instructed in the dressing room at the interval had an impact as the Reds were much improved in the second period. Alexis Mac Allister saw a diving header well saved by Vertbruggen before Virgil van Dijk couldn’t get any purchase on a shot when just yards out.
Then in the 56th minute, Mo Salah finally had a breakaway when he was released by Nunez but was the latest Liverpool player to be thwarted by Verbruggen.
Yet the pressure was building – and finally Brighton buckled. In the 69th minute, Gakpo floated a cross into the box that Nunez intelligently ducked under, which left Verbruggen stranded and the ball nestled into the far corner. And three minutes later, Liverpool took the lead when Salah chopped inside Pervis Estupinan before curling his shot into the top corner.
That was to be enough for Slot’s men, who did not create too many chances after that but saw out the game comfortably. And they profited on both City and Arsenal losing – and sit at the top of the Premier League. Here’s how we rated the Liverpool players.
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Little chance with the opening goal but made a smart save to ensure Liverpool went into half-time only a goal behind. Barely had anything to do after the interval before coming off his line a couple of times in the closing stages.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
Made one good early tackle on Mitoma but passing was really poor in the first half and corners were undercooked. Better after the break, though, roaming into midfield at times and dictating play and managing to nullify dangerman Mitoma superbly.
Ibrahima Konate – 7
Made several important blocks but had to do far too much defending. Forced off injured at half-time with a suspected wrist injury.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
Won everything in the air in the first half. Showed plenty of leadership after the break and didn’t put a foot wrong.
Kostas Tsimikas – 7
Made a couple of good early tackles was up against it marking the livewire Kagioglu. Gave Liverpool an outlet down the flank after the break and kept things tight at the back.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
