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Liverpool's perfect start to the new season continued after a slender 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield. Mohammed Salah too maintained his perfect record at home by making it two in two this term so far with a sumptuous strike in the first half. The Reds have now provisionally taken the pole position in the league after holders Manchester City fumbled earlier in the day.
An exuberant show from the hosts, especially in the first half, left the Seagulls on the tenterhooks. Coming hot on the heels of a confidence-boosting 3-2 win over Manchester United, it looked more like a distant memory after what was a sordid show this time around, although the visitors did manage to keep the game from being an absolute blowout in the second stanza when Liverpool continued to throw the kitchen sink.
Here are the hits and pits from the game:
Hit: Mohamed Salah
Let's begin with the man of the match himself. Having struck in the season opener against West Ham, Salah was once again on target in a home game. And unlike the previous occasion where his strike was merely a slice of much bigger cake that the Reds baked, today he delivered the whole cake himself, icing it off with a superb goal that was enough to secure all three points on the night.
Roberto Firmino found him charging down the right, and laid a pass that he skillfully latched on to; driving it home past Mathew Ryan for his second of many more goals to come this season. He was dispossessed a redonkulous 7 times during the game, but that didn't deter Salah from mustering 6 shots at goal (highest in the game), laying off 6 key passes (highest in the game) and completing 2 dribbles (joint second-highest in the game).
Another blinder from the Liverpool talisman as he shows no signs of stopping, come hell or high water.
Flop: Yves Bissouma
The Brighton midfielder was given a baptism of fire in his first Premier League start. Run over in the midfield by the likes of Milner and Wijnaldum, Bissouma was also at fault for Salah's goal as he was heckled off the ball by the skipper in his own half. He was also too slow to react as by the time he turned around, the Egyptian sensation had already buried it into the back of the net.
The 21-year old did show flickers of promise on the ball when he completed 27 of his 32 passes and got into some good positions when Brighton tried to mount an attack, Bissouma still has a lot to learn and a long way to go as his error today suggests.
Hit: James Milner
Another great spell of industry and endurance from the Liverpool captain. Milner's workman-like performance once again kept things ticking for his side as he looks ripe and at the peak of his powers even as he's approaching 33. Moreover, he was also at credits for the goal when he muscled the ball away from Bissouma with a press in the middle of the Brighton half.
Milner laid some really good crosses (which unfortunately couldn't be converted) while his passing range was really impressive too. His 117 touches on the ball is second only to Van Dijk. Milner was also crucial to the clean sheet, helping out at the back with important tackles and interceptions (two each). His set-piece delivery wasn't quiet exemplary which they otherwise are, but that's only a small blot on an otherwise pristine copybook.
Flop: Anthony Knockaert
An important member of the Brighton squad, Knockaert had a rather off-day at the office. His attacking contributions were a far cry from the one in the Manchester United vanquish on the previous matchday. But more crucially, the Frenchman missed a glorious chance to equalize in the second half that would've otherwise secured a point for the visitors.
A penalty box skirmish early on after the break saw Glen Murray try to cut back for Propper, but Van Dijk, in an effort to nudge the ball away, kicked it straight at Knockaert, but he was a step or two quick while trying to connect to it. He could not sort himself out and hastily struck the ball just across the face of the goal. That was the closest that the Seagulls came all evening and also the best chance for them.
Knockaert managed only one shot on target, but that was also easily dealt with by Alisson and his partnership with Murray didn't quite click today.
Hit: Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 19-year old is having a spectacular year with the Reds, and his prodigious talent were on show today again. Early on, he rattled the crossbar with a venomous freekick as he showed glimpses of his potential from the dead ball too. But he was very much active from the flanks, as he's been throughout the year.
Alexander-Arnold proved to be a terrific attacking overlap as he laid two key passes and stretched out Brighton's defense with buccaneering runs. He was also on hand to track back in time and leave no space for the Seagulls to exploit. The English youngster was particularly responsible for keeping Solly March in check, before catching everyone on a hope with his unreal cross-field pass. Even Premier League legend Gary Lineker couldn't hold his amazement.
As he's mentioned in his tweet, this guy truly is a wonderkid and has all the potential to become a legendary defense someday.
