Liverpool Top EPL With third straight Win
By Nigel Philips
Liverpool sit on top of the Premier League table after a tense win over Brighton at Anfield, courtesy Mohamed Sala's first-half goal.
It is three wins out of as many games for The Reds, representing the best start to a league season for Jurgen Klopp's side since 2013/14.
The hosts went into the game knowing leaders, Manchester City, had dropped points at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier on in the day.
Liverpool were all over the place in the first quarter of an hour, but missed the chances that came their way.
Sadio Mane missed the post narrowly with a left–footed shot in the 5th minute, Roberto Firmino’s close range header in the 9th minute was saved before Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the crossbar off a free kick in the 15th minute.
It took Brighton 20 minutes to make their first incursion, though Glenn Murray was caught offside as he attacked Matt Ryan’s through ball.
Salah appeared quiet, but the Egyptian was alert in the 25th minute as he fed on a loose ball, created out of a pressure from James Milner, to hit home from a tight angle.
Sadio Mane headed straight into Mathew Ryan’s hands in the 34th minute, six minutes before Trent Alexander-Arnold was flagged offside having been played through by James Milner.
Roberto Firmino’s right footed shot from the left side of the box in the 46th minute was blocked. Anthony Knockaert shot off target from close range in the 48th minute, three minutes, after which Van Dijk blocked Martin Montoya’s shot inside the penalty box.
Trent Alexander-Arnold received a booking, in the 77th minute, for a bad foul as Klopp replaced Sadio Mane with Daniel Sturridge in the 80th minute.
Chris Hughton responded quickly for Brighton by bringing on Pascal Gross for Yves Bissouma.
And, Gross was unlucky not to grab the equaliser when Alisson Becker dived to save the former's brilliant header.
The Brazilian goalkeeper placed a shot in Shane Duffy’s path in the 90th minute but denied the player from scoring by tipping the rebound to a corner.
