Stroller coaster
LIVERPOOL TAKE THEIR TRAVELLING TITLE CELEBRATIONS TO THE SEASIDE
IT has become the longest victory tour.
Newly-crowned champions Liverpool were given another guard of honour, they moved closer to yet another Premier League record, and turned on the style again.
This feels rather like the Harlem Globetrotters going round the country, playing exhibition matches just for fun, to give everyone a glimpse of the Premier League’s all-stars.
Another victory – one they had to work really hard for – and now Liverpool need just three more wins to beat Manchester City’s best-ever points tally of 100 set in 2018.
The Reds were pushed to the limit and rode their luck at times against a Brighton team playing with freedom and energy after effectively
securing their Premier League safety. Incredibly, Liverpool also ended a poor run which, on the face of it, seemed almost unbelievable.
Mo Salah’s sixth-minute opener really was the Reds’ first goal in six away games in all competitions, and ended a run of seven hours and 48 minutes without a goal.
That blew away any lingering hangovers from their defeat at the Etihad last week and lacklustre win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are already history makers and this team should try to break as many records as possible to mark themselves down as one of the best of all time.
Brighton’s players stood and applauded Liverpool out onto the pitch – and then gave them way too much respect as they watched the visitors roar into a two-goal lead. The first came after just six minutes and was typical Liverpool. Brighton midfielder Davy Propper was caught in possession, and Naby Keita pressed and closed him down, before feeding Salah who supplied a straightforward finish.
Two minutes later, Salah turned provider as his assist set up Jordan Henderson on the edge of the box, and the Liverpool captain’s wonderful 20-yard cross-shot flashed past Brighton keeper Mat Ryan and into the far corner.
That would ordinarily have been that but Liverpool eased
P W D L F A Pts Liverpool (C) 34 30 2 2 75 26 92 Man City 34 22 3 9 86 34 69 Chelsea 34 18 6 10 63 46 60 Leicester 34 17 8 9 64 32 59 Man Utd 33 15 10 8 56 33 55 Wolves 34 13 13 8 45 37 52 Sheff Utd 34 13 12 9 35 33 51 Arsenal 34 12 14 8 50 42 50 Burnley 34 14 7 13 38 46 49 Tottenham 33 13 9 11 52 44 48 Everton 33 12 8 13 40 48 44 Southampton 33 13 4 16 42 55 43 Newcastle 34 11 10 13 35 50 43 C Palace 34 11 9 14 30 43 42 Brighton 34 8 12 14 36 46 36 West Ham 34 8 7 19 40 59 31 Watford 34 7 10 17 31 53 31 Aston Villa 33 7 6 20 36 62 27 Bournemouth 33 7 6 20 32 59 27 Norwich 34 5 6 23 26 63 21
up, took their foot off the gas, and the Seagulls really stepped up a gear as they have been in terrific form since the season restarted.
Liverpool right-back Neco Williams made his first Premier League start but out of position at left-back. He looked to be coping well after making a terrific goal-saving block to stop Leandro Trossard.
But Seagulls right-back Tariq Lamptey then gave Williams a real chasing, and eventually the Liverpool teenager was booked for a foul when the Brighton man outstripped him again.
Sure enough, Lamptey, 19 – who looks a fantastic prospect after joining from Chelsea in January – provided the cross for Trossard to fire home a brilliant shot to haul Brighton back into the contest in the 45th minute. Maybe it
should not have been too much of a surprise when Klopp hooked Williams at half-time to bring on first-choice leftback Andy Robertson and shore up that flank.
Playing on the wrong side and on a yellow card made it an obvious switch.
But when Brighton’s towering left-back Dan Burn missed a big chance, Klopp sent for the cavalry with Fabinho brought on to shore up the midfield and Sadio Mane to join the attack.
Liverpool finally settled down after Salah got his second of the night, glancing home Robertson’s corner at the near post on 76 minutes.
That takes Salah’s tally to 19 in the league this season, three behind top-scorer Jamie Vardy, but do not bet against the Liverpool forward chasing down the Golden Boot in the pursuit of more records.