MotM- Gini Wijnaldum

(Completed 100% of his passes in the first half (46/46, 75/76 at full time). One exquisite piece of skill to keep possession in midfield. Almost got a goal. Bailed Alisson out after the break and was still running hard at the end.)

As soon as I posted the previous chapter I thought oh no what have I done assuming we'll beat Brighton so thoroughly again but then I assured myself that we're even better than we were last season and we scored 9 against them in 2 matches so why wouldn't I think we could do it again.

Reality was that was far harder than than I'd imagined. If anything we got lucky today so there has definitely been a lot of improvement with Brighton. I hope they can be as difficult or more as they were for us and Man United against other teams who want to rival us at the top.

We started with an almost nice and early which is pretty promising. Mane hit it just wide. His shot looked dead straight so if he'd just been stood a step closer to the middle he would've got it or managed to curl it.

Brighton responded with a shot on target but straight at Alisson.

We weren't good at keeping or passing the ball. Mane gave it away twice in quick succession. But we still got our chances.

Robbertson whipped the ball into the box and Firmino heads it right down into the corner but the keeper just keeps it out. Where's Firmino's luck?

We got a free kick. Keita fouled right on the edge of the box. TAA , Milner and Salah have a long discussion before Klopp stepped in, making sure it's TAA's. Trent Alexander-Arnold takes the cracking free-kick and thumps it against the crossbar. So close to producing THAT goal again. And he almost argues a corner from it but the keeper didn't get anywhere near it.

If it's not TAA's thunderbolt free kicks to break the deadlock it's got to be Mo Salah. Milner won the ball back. Firmino picks it up and passes it across to Salah who curls it beautifully into the bottom corner with his left foot. First touch.

The Egyptian King chants followed by Allez Allez Allez! ring out around the stadium. Which I'm specifically mentioning because Brighton sung is this a library a few times, the first time I heard it we were singing we love Liverpool literally a minute ago then other times after Allez Allez Allez had just echoed around the place.

The commentators focus heavily on Bissouma for losing possession for the goal to develop which made me feel like we were lucky to get it. No, that's what we do. We grabbed the ball and got it to Salah for him to score. I particularly liked that th commentators had just been saying it took 26 and 30 something minutes to start scoring on the previous occasions so we grabbed our chance and scored on 22 this time. More time to get all those other goals in, right?

Gini showed his confidence to beat players in the middle of the pitch with keep-ups, went past two players but was then fouled. He then almost scored he turned and shot but couldn't beat the keeper.

We end up pretty much trapping Brighton in their half. They're keeping us out in our pursuit of the next goal but there's also no where for them to go so we keep at them in a bit of a stalemate.

Dad suggested swapping Mane for Shaqiri leading up to half time because of giving the ball away but Klopp sticks to his plan.

I swear we spent the second half trying to convince Brighton that they could score. Far too much giving away the ball. I like to think or hope that we were doing that on purpose to try to get their banks of midfield and defence out the way.

They have a shot wide a few minutes in which they definitely could've equalised with.

We thought we were getting a penalty when the keeper and Firmino collided trying to win a high ball. Firmino got his sock ripped and had to change but the keeper got the free kick. We were a bit confused with that but the keeper is generally sided with on these things.

Balogun is booked after flying in to tackle James Milner with his studs up and catches him on the ankle. It looked very 2 feet off the ground and with every other match seeming to have sending offs today deserving of a different colour maybe. Milner was in the wars with those tackles again today.

Keita goes off for Henderson. Again Dad's not happy to see our captain come on. You could show him all the videos and facts to show his forward passing and he'd still believe

Alisson comes out of the box to collect the ball and chips it over Knockaert's head.Everyone cheers and it was brilliant but I can't help a little panic going by memories of our recent goal keeping history. We got to get used to this one's belief in having the ball at his feet. I'm sure he wanted the roar of the crowd again whentried to beat Glenn Murray but it went slightly wrong and had to tackle and just get it away. Don't. Get. Cocky!

He's become the 4th Liverpool goalkeeper in the last 51 years to keep a clean sheet in each of the 1st 3 League games in a season. In company with Grobelaar, Reina & Mignolet so I can't complain.

Sturridge replaced Mane. He had a shot

Trent Alexander-Arnold fouled just as Brighton were breaking away in a good position and he's in the book. Three yellows in three games for the naughty defender. He's definitely heading for that match suspension. I shouldn't be thinking about that so early!

He made way for Joel Matip. It was actually really odd to see him. I swear I've not seen him in ages so it was a nice surprise but it did make me a bit nervous putting him in as a corner is being taken and in seeing out this close game.

Alisson makes up for his scares with a great save. The ball is crossed over by Montoya and Gros finds himself free in the centre of the box it's a good header but an even better save as the Brazilian pushes it round the post for a corner. The resulting corner is cleared away.

Salah pretty much finishes the match by slicing straight over the bar and that wasn't the first we saw of that today. 

Liverpool have scored 20 consecutive home league goals without reply meeting the club record set in 1987-88. How good is that? Liverpool were doing a good job of making me think it was going to come to an end today. Haven't conceded a Premier League goal at Anfield in 183 days, long may it continue.

Top of the league! 3 games, 9 points. Perfect. Is this what it was like to be a City fan last season?

They had Wolves today. The Wolves howled at the moon and produced a draw. I think their goal was a hand ball or something but I've not seen it and I'm not taking it off them.

Next up Leicester City away, Saturday 1st September 2018, 12:30.

I'm thinking this is one of those "easy on paper" but Leicester have been so all over the place in recent seasons and not shy of beating us that I hope we can get our act together and play better than we did today which seems a bizarre thing to say given the position we're in.