Three games, three wins. Seven goals scored, none conceded. Top of the league. It all sounds so simple for Liverpool. But it was far from that and it's fair to say Anfield was glad to hear the final whistle when it finally arrived. Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Show all 23 1 /23 Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool 1-0 Brighton Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Alisson - 7 His neat footwork was once again on display as he kicked off attacks from the back. He already has a strong command of his penalty area and caught a couple of crosses to ease the pressure the defenders in front of him. Showed a nice bit of skill to cheekily lift the ball over Knockaert as the Brighton man tried to close him down. Made an important save in the last minute to keep Liverpool ahead. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7 Hit the crossbar with an early free kick that was swirling to take it away from the Brighton goalkeeper. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Virgil van Dijk - 6 Was not given too much of a test in defence, but he did show his quality with some very precise cross-field passes to switch the play. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Joe Gomez - 6 After only a few games together, Gomez and Van Dijk appear to be forming a very good partnership. Another good performance from Gomez who may begin to feel that he deserves a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad when he announces it next week. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Andy Robertson - 7 Pretty much played as a winger and tried to channel his inner Luke Shaw by attempting to produce a carbon copy of the United left back’s goal against Leicester, with less success. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Naby Keita - 6 An early shout for signing of the season. Keita’s energy made it incredibly hard for Brighton to move up the pitch with the ball and he won the ball in good areas on several occasions. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 Dropped the deepest of the midfield three to keep things ticking over with some nice touches and flicks. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 James Milner - 8 Was relentless in Liverpool’s midfield. His range of passing and crosses were once again very impressive. Became increasingly fed up with some of the Brighton challenges he was on the receiving end of. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Mohamed Salah - 7 This is becoming a familiar sight in the Premier League, again. Scored at Anfield for the second consecutive game with a precise low curling effort into the bottom corner. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Sadio Mane - 5 Almost scored when he met a cross but his header was tamer than it should have been. Was given very little space around the Brighton penalty area and unable to get to the grass behind the Liverpool defence. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Roberto Firmino - 5 Remains the only player of the formidable front three yet to score a Premier League goal this season. Brighton were defending deep and limited the Space between the midfield and defence which Firmino likes to lurk. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Matthew Ryan - 6 Should have done a lot better to prevent Salah’s goal. He got a hand to the low effort and should really have pushed it away, but instead he helped it into the bottom corner. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Martin Montoya - 6 Continues to look like a very decent acquisition for Brighton. Moved the ball on well and won his individual duels. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Shane Duffy - 6 Won a few important headers and defended well as part of a strong unit. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Leon Balogun - 6 Worked hard in the Brighton's organised defence and took no chances at the back. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Gaetan Bong - 6 Spent a lot of the game chasing Salah along the wing and was rarely given the chance to get forward. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Anthony Knockaert - 6 Should have scored when Murray’s cut-back pass fell at his feet, but he could not sort himself in time to hit the ball cleanly. Knelt behind Brighton’s wall when Alexander-Arnold was lining up a free kick on the edge of the box to prevent the ball from going under the wall. Genius idea. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Davy Propper - 6 Embarked on a couple of runs from deep but was left on his own and ultimately did not impact the game too much. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Dale Stephens - 6 Made a few tackles in midfield and looked on of Brighton’s best players on the ball with some nice distribution Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Yves Bissouma - 5 Showed glimpses of promise on the ball, but was at fault for Liverpool’s goal. He assumed a little too much time on the ball and was pressed into giving it away before Salah’s goal. A rude awakening to life in the Premier League. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Solly March - 6 Spent a lot of his evening chasing Alexander-Arnold along the wing and rarely got on the ball himself. Had an animated discussion with Bissouma over who will take an attacking free kick which had to be sorted by Bong. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Glenn Murray - 7 Worked very hard and in his own half more often than he ventured into Liverpool’s territory as he spent a large amount of time defending. Battled hard and created a chance for Brighton with some tenacious running to set up Knockaert who missed his effort. Getty Images Indeed, it took a superb leap to his left by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to deny substitute Pascal Gross a Brighton equaliser with just a couple of minutes left on the clock. That's why you spend world record fees on keepers, of course. The Brighton fans who had endured M6 chaos and no trains out of Euston to pack the away end got more than a run for their money. This was not Liverpool at their electric, thrilling best. At times it was sloppy and disjointed, passes failing to find their mark, offering Brighton hope where there probably should have been none. But it was nonetheless in the end that thing perhaps even more craved round these parts, the 1-0 win of a genuine title contender. Perhaps three wins is no more than should have been expected from Liverpool after a Premier League schedule which has taken in a rebuilt West Ham, a tough but beatable Crystal Palace and a Brighton side so unsuccessful on their travels. Mohamed Salah proved to be the difference in this game (AFP/Getty Images) Yet it is difficult not to be positive about what is happening at Anfield. Klopp's side look like they will only get better too. It has been Liverpool's tendency in the more frustrating years of their recent history to look gift horses in the mouth, to watch key rivals drop points only to fail to take advantage themselves. This 2018 vintage may be rather different though. 'They've got a bit more about them' might be one early assessment. Yes, it is early in the season, but make no mistake that Manchester City's hiccup earlier in the day at Molineux was a chance to be grasped here by Jurgen Klopp's side. Pep Guardiola's side won't drop many. They did, though only just.<doc-sep>There's a buzz and expectation around Liverpool at the moment that the Reds could do something really special. Following back to back victories Jurgen Klopp's tenure at the helm this season has got off to a flier. There was that dominating performance against West Ham followed by a solid win over Crystal Palace after what was widely considered as an excellent pre-season campaign. The tests keep coming, though, and Chris Hughton's Brighton side are the latest obstacle Liverpool are looking to navigate. The Seagulls will be buoyant following their 3-2 win over Manchester United last week and will no doubt pose a threat. Kick-off gets underway at 5.30pm this afternoon with James Pearce and Ian Doyle in place at Anfield to ensure you don't miss a kick of the action. Stick with us!<doc-sep>LIVERPOOL are looking down on everyone again. It was back in November 2016, during Jurgen Klopp’s first full season at Anfield, when they last stood at the Premier League summit. 7 Liverpool star Mohamed Salah opened the scoring at Anfield against Brighton Credit: Reuters 7 Salah celebrates after breaking the deadlock against the Seagulls in the 23rd minute Credit: Reuters But thanks to Mo Salah’s strike they are back on their perch — with real hope they can stay there this time and end a title drought stretching back to 1990. The signs are there. This team is better than when they last hit top spot, with only four remaining from the side then. This vintage has Salah’s deadly finishing, Naby Keita unfazed by wearing Steven Gerrard’s famous No 8 shirt and a £67million goalkeeper in Alisson Becker between the sticks. Fabinho cost £44m in the summer but still cannot get onto the subs’ bench. In this clash, they hit top spot without hitting top gear — and it needed a stunning save from Alisson to deny Pascal Gross at the end and seal the deal. Saturday Round-Up: Watch the best Premier League action from 25th August 7 Salah, 26, has netted in back-to-back home games this season Credit: EPA But they are also a step up from Brendan Rodgers’ team five seasons ago — the last Reds side to mount a serious title challenge. A third consecutive win without conceding a goal meant the best start to a season since that campaign. It is early days but Klopp’s current crop should really stick around the summit for a prolonged period now like Rodgers’ team did. On their day they can beat Manchester City, whose draw earlier on opened the door for top spot. Now they need to show they are better over a period of time. Klopp insists he would never let the cameras into his club like City did last season. 7 Reds boss Jurgen Klopp reacts after his side took the lead midway through the first half Credit: Getty Images - Getty But it would be fascinating to see how the German gets these displays out of his players. Whatever he tells them in training, or whatever he is feeding them, it certainly works. Klopp’s lads are now very comfortable with his brand of heavy-metal football. They were swarming around Brighton players and pouring forward at pace like the Red Arrows. Chris Hughton tried to nullify this by packing the midfield but it backfired badly. Yves Bissouma was brought in for his full debut and his error led to the crucial goal. The Mali midfielder received the ball in his own territory and promptly lost it as James Milner was on him in a flash. 7 England international Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar from a free-kick early on Credit: Reuters Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino shifted the ball forward before Salah curled his finish inside the far post. Admittedly, Klopp’s side were guilty of failing to kill off Brighton when they could. Mane had his own chances to score, clipping one of them wide and forcing a save with a diving header. Mat Ryan was kept busy with Firmino getting a header on target at the near post and Gini Wijnaldum going close, too. Trent ­Alexander-Arnold whacked the crossbar with a free-kick as the hosts looked in the mood to add to the nine they notched in two games against the Seagulls last season. 7 Virgil van Dijk and Glenn Murray contest for the ball during the opening period Credit: Reuters There was also a decent shout for a penalty when Davy Propper used his arm to block. Brighton always had the chance to nick a goal on the counter attack though. The second half started with the PA system still blasting out — and when the music stopped Liverpool’s defence stood still. Glenn Murray hustled his way through and got the ball across to Anthony Knockaert to flash his effort wide. It was a let-off. Murray showed how difficult he is to play against last week when he put Manchester United to the sword — and Virgil van Dijk had to be at his best to battle with him. Some describe VVD as a Rolls Royce of a defender, while Klopp says he is an “SUV… a big one”. 7 Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made an expert challenge on Brighton ace Solly March Credit: Getty - Contributor The Dutchman needed all of his muscle to keep a clean sheet, with Brighton giving the home side a real scare at the end. Alisson had shown his ability with the ball at his feet — the keeper chipped over Knockaert when he looked under pressure, to the delight of the home fans. But he showed what he could do with his gloves with a minute left when Gross’ header was superbly tipped away. It was a save worth a couple of points. Klopp says the Premier League is more difficult to win now than at any stage. He believes it is even harder than breaking Bayern Munich’s dominance in Germany. But his team are giving it a real go.<doc-sep>
Liverpool move back to the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. Liverpool have moved back to the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield this afternoon. Mohamed Salah got the only goal of the game as Liverpool made it three wins from three at the start of the new Premier League season, but Brighton produced a gutsy performance and could have stolen a point late on to follow on from their famous 3-2 win over Manchester United last time out. Liverpool withstood the late pressure to maintain their record of being the only team yet to concede this season though, taking full advantage of Manchester City's earlier slip-up at Wolverhampton Wanderers to gain an early march on the champions in the title race. © Reuters It did not take long for Liverpool to gain control of the match, and their first chance arrived after only five minutes when Sadio Mane released Salah before continuing his run into the box to meet the return pass, only to place his finish narrowly wide of the target. Brighton responded with a chance of their own when Anthony Knockaert cut inside before drawing a routine stop from Alisson Becker, but that was as close as the visitors came in a first half which saw them surrender the lion's share of possession. Liverpool should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Andrew Robertson swung a dangerous cross into the middle which Roberto Firmino met with a firm downward header, but the Brazilian was denied a first goal of the season by a stunning reaction stop from Mathew Ryan. It felt like only a matter of time before Liverpool would break the deadlock, though, and they came closer still moments later when Trent Alexander-Arnold thundered a free kick against the crossbar after Naby Keita had been brought down on the edge of the box. The breakthrough finally arrived midway through the first half when James Milner stole possession off full debutant Yves Bissouma deep inside the Brighton half before Mane and Firmino combined to find Salah, who passed a pinpoint finish across goal and into the bottom corner for his 29th goal in as many appearances at Anfield. © Reuters Brighton boss Chris Hughton will have been unhappy with the manner of the goal, but he could have few complaints at seeing his side fall behind and it almost got worse shortly after the half-hour mark when Georginio Wijnaldum stung the palms of Ryan from a tight angle. Moments later Robertson whipped a devilish ball into the box which Mane turned goalwards without knowing too much about it, and Firmino also threatened with a shot which flew over the crossbar shortly before half time. Brighton avoided any further damage, though, and almost produced a smash-and-grab equaliser in the opening stages of the second half when good work from Glenn Murray saw the ball end up at the feet of Knockaert, who snatched at his effort and sliced it off target. It hinted at a half in which complacency began to creep into Liverpool's game as the tempo of their play dropped, although it was the hosts who continued to look the most likely to get the game's second goal. Joe Gomez planted a header straight at the keeper shortly after the hour mark, while Firmino also tested Ryan and Shane Duffy almost turned the ball into his own net when trying to cut out Robertson's low cross from the right. As long as the deficit remained one, Brighton still had belief that they could steal a point from the game, and the increasingly sloppy hosts provided them with one or two reasons for encouragement as the Seagulls' pressure began to grow in the final 10 minutes. © Reuters Clear chances were still at a premium for the visitors, though, and Liverpool could have put the game to bed once and for all when Alexander-Arnold saw his deflected effort bounce narrowly wide after good work from Milner and Robertson. Salah's resulting corner was met by Wijnaldum with a Gianfranco Zola-esque flick at the near post, but a mixture of Duffy and Murray scrambled the ball away before it came straight back at them, with Salah firing high and wide after finding some rare space.