by Aidan Mason (@aidanmason1)
The Reds roared into a first-half lead with two goals in ten minutes.
The first – a Jurgen Klopp Liverpool special – was all about Naby Keita. The Guinean pressed high to win the ball in the opposition’s penalty box and then laid it off to Mo Salah who finished coolly on 6′.
Liverpool’s second – again courtesy of the high press – followed just two minutes later.
The ball found it’s way to Mohammed Salah on the edge of the box, and although defender Dan Burn did well to get a foot in, the ball fell to captain Jordon Henderson who unleashed a sublime side-foot shot to make it 2-0.
Game over?
Not just yet. As it turned out, Brighton persisted and, for the remainder of the first forty-five, were more than Liverpool’s match.
Goalkeeper Alisson couldn’t make it 13 clean sheets for the season as Leandro Trossard finished nicely from a Tariq Lamptey cross late in the half.
1-2. Half time.
Liverpool were lucky not to concede again after the interval as Burn – in acres of space – scuffed a close-range chance with the goal gaping on 60′.
But Liverpool got better as the second forty-five wore on. On 76′, Salah grabbed himself a brace, meeting Andy Robertson’s in-swinging corner with a deft header.
The Egyptian’s near-post finish means he is now just three goals away from Jamie Vardy at the summit of the golden boot race.
Salah had chances to bag his hat-trick but was denied in the dying embers by Matt Ryan after some fancy footwork. The Australian shot-stopper recovered well to tip the Liverpool forward’s right-footed attempt over the crossbar.
And even the last touch of the game was a Salah chance; a header which sailed comfortably over the bar.
But overall a decent day at the office for Klopp’s champions, who move onto ninety-two points with four games to play.
Up the Reds.
