Nowhere near our best but come away with another victory and keep our perfect start up. Another clean sheet as well and ending the month of August on top of the Premier League. It's hard not to happy and smiling as wide as the Mersey tunnel when you see that.
Honestly just let it sink in, we're top of the League.
Brighton came with a game plan to make it difficult for us and credit to them, they stuck at it and it was difficult. Unfortunately for the Seagulls, it wasn't impossible because we have that bit of quality you need to break those kind of teams down. We don't need to trounce everybody five or six nil, a one nil win gets you the same three points. And we have more than enough quality to get at least that one goal.
They had a couple of chances but we've improved defensively and now have that bit of extra quality at the back to ensure we can scrape those one nil wins. For years now we have had to score three or four to guarantee victories because we were so fragile at the back but we look as solid as we have done for ten years right now from a defensive standpoint.
The two best young full backs in the country, an ever improving young centre half, the world's best centre half and a solid hand in goal. Great teams are built from the back, or so the saying goes, but we look to of done it the other way round. Build from the front to make sure we score enough goals that will win us enough points to attract the top defenders to the club and then solidify that defence to make sure we don't concede enough goals that will see us lose championships and trophies.
Overall though, what a F***ing start to the season. Three games, three clean sheets, three wins. Long may it F***ing continue.
Alisson - during the opening two games I've commented on how I worry about him with the ball at his feet because he's so calm with it and thinks he has all the time in the world, at some point teams will rush him and it'll cost us. It nearly did against Brighton. Murray closed him down and was inches away from getting to the ball before our new keeper after he'd try to go round the Brighton forward. Now nobody will mention that because it didn't cost us in the end and because he made that save in the last few minutes but it doesn't disguise the fact that he was very nearly caught and needs to, in certain situations, just get rid of the ball quicker. Other than that, another flawless performance from him. Two really good saves, distribution was as good as Xabi Alonso and commanding when coming for crosses. Just get rid of the ball that bit quicker at times.
Alexander-Arnold - another solid performance from the youngster. Last season he was putting in standout performances on a regular basis but this year he looks to be more solid than flashy. His performances aren't as eye catching, maybe because we're used to them now, but instead a lot more steady. All season long he's been our out ball, just a shame his crossing hasn't quite found the mark yet. Three yellows in three matches as well may need to be looked at, could do without any suspensions this early into the campaign.
Gomez - continues to improve game after game and as far as I'm concerned, he's well and truly established himself as first choice centre half. Matip can F**k right off and Lovren will have to wait his turn because Joe Go has been immense and looks to be helped along the way by Van Dijk. Only thing I would like to see more of from Gomez is being a bit more vocal, lead from the back the way his defensive partner does. Also the save Alisson made at the end, I don't know how their centre forward gets in between our two centre halves that easily.
Van Dijk - As mentioned there with Gomez, the chance at the end was poor defending from our two but that was the only thing that was poor during the game because once again the two of them were exceptional. I keep saying it about Van Dijk but the way he's leading the back line is so impressive.
Robertson - like Trent on the other side, his performances have been steady rather than standouts so far this year. Unlike Trent though, his crossing has been spot on. I say it almost every game now but he's the best left back we've had in the Prem and for me, the best in the world right now. Another strong outing from the Scot.
Wijnaldum - for me, he's been our player of the year so far. Immense in every game, doing the work nobody else really wants to. Nothing that catches the eye as such but such a vital member of the team. Breaking the play up, winning the ball back and then getting us on the front foot quickly. He's cemented his place in the team for the foreseeable future in my opinion. Dominated the midfield against Brighton and fully deserves all the man of the match votes.
Milner - another who has cemented their place in the side. When he arrived I openly admitted I never rated him as a player. And during his time here I've never really changed that opinion. He's been alright but I've always felt we could upgrade on him very easily. But F**k me, this season he's been outstanding. He's doing everything a central midfielder should be and he's doing it to such a high standard. He was boss once again against Brighton and long may it continue.
Keita - another good showing by our new man who has just slotted right into the team. He is the driving force of the middle three and you can see just how comfortable he is running with the ball. Keeps the ball ticking over, helps out at both ends of the pitch and has just been a joy to watch thus far. Already looks accustomed to life at Liverpool.
Salah - third game in, he's got two goals and we're saying our front three haven't even started yet. I know a lot of teams who'd love to have that sort of problem. Like most of the team, his performances have been steady rather than flashy this year. I don't know if Klopp has changed his style slightly from the heavy metal football to the more soft rock but it's getting results regardless. We're not full throttle going forward and yet we're still winning so hard to complain.
Firmino - it's not hard to complain about our number 9 though who again was disappointing for me. He got the assist though so that was a bonus. Just doesn't seem to of got going at all.
Mane - like Salah, we're talking about them not clicking into gear yet and he already has three in three. Admittedly though, against Brighton he was shocking. Gave the ball away numerous times and looked to be half asleep for most of the game. I think the game was too easy for him (and most of the team) so he didn't respect it the way he should of. Sloppy passes, lazy runs and just a really poor all round performance.
Henderson - another good run out for the lad, who Klopp is obviously intent on giving minutes to. Nothing any of sort of note during his twenty minutes or so but he's still making up for a lack of pre-season.
Sturridge - like Henderson, there seems to be an intent from Klopp on giving Danny some game time. Even if it's not as much as some of us would like. Ten minutes on the field and did alright. I would of liked to see him run the clock down a bit more than trying for the second goal in those last few minutes though but we know Sturridge is a goalscorer and he wants to score at every opportunity.
Matip - hopefully Klopp isn't intent on giving this man game time because the lad just isn't good enough in my opinion but in the two or three minutes he was on, he didn't do a lot wrong so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.
Overall, a solid, well fought out victory. We were never gonna lose but it was just a case of can we nick that goal and through Salah, we did. Like I said with Mane, I think the game was too easy for us because Brighton were posing no threat or even intent on going forward so it was easy to knock the ball around and that's why the respect wasn't paid to the passes by some of our players. They knew we were always gonna win, it was just a matter of when.
Next up Leicester and a win there to go into the poxy internationals with four from four would be the perfect F***ing start for Jürgen and the boys.
Everyone around us is dropping points so all we need to do is concentrate on ourselves and make sure we're taking advantage of their mishaps.
Made up right now.
Thank you Reds!
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