CATCH US IF YOU CAN
Van Dijk puts daylight between Reds & rest
FORGET about a gap it’s now a chasm as Jurgen Klopp’s men hunt down a long-awaited title.
A rush of blood from Reds keeper Alisson almost threw a spanner into the works, the Brazilian sent off 14 minutes from time.
Fortunately Klopp (right) hadn’t used up all his substitutes, allowing him to bring on back up goalie Adrian, although his first piece of action was to pick out the ball from the net from a clever Lewis Dunk free-kick.
Adrian claimed he wasn’t ready, the ball trickling past him although ref Martin Atkinson’s whistle had sounded to make it 2-1.
But the 10 men hung on even if it wasn’t pretty, skipper Jordan Henderson at one stage just hoofing the ball upfield in absolute panic.
Klopp insisted: “The red card made this a special win. We had to bring on a frozen keeper. You imagine in this weather you go on there with a shorts and a really thin shirt. When they scored we looked a bit silly at that moment.”
This morning it will be far calmer around these parts as Liverpool sit proudly 11 points clear of the so-called chasing pack. But he added: “We don’t think about the points gap. People say 11 points but it could be eight if
Leicester win. Results-wise it’s an incredible period.”
No one though could have foreseen the anxious finale for the champions-elect.
Having earlier witnessed Anfield old boy Jonjo Shelvey lend Liverpool’s ambitions a helping hand against Manchester City, Klopp couldn’t possibly have guessed that Brighton’s defence followed.
It was a help-yourself buffet for Virgil van Dijk in the ravenous pursuit of English football’s biggest honour.
Two easy-as-you-like headers in the space of six first-half minutes extinguished any hopes the visitors might have had of halting this sleek moving juggernaut.
Records are being smashed, new frontiers conquered as this side reboots Liverpool’s proud history.
In the end this wasn’t the perfect performance and one unwanted sequence, a run now of 12 games without a clean sheet continues to haunt them.
While Van Dijk will hog the positive headlines equal praise should be bestowed on the man who helped make it happen for him, Trent Alexander-arnold. Already the full-back with stardust in his boots is acquiring a reputation for a delivery service that Amazon would be proud of.
First a freekick was with pinpoint accuracy for
Van Dijk to be afforded too much time and space to head over Mat Ryan who seemed to misjudge the ball’s flight.
But there was nothing he could do as Alexanderarnold proved his prowess from corners with a superbly clipped effort which Van Dijk devoured with gusto from inside the sixyard box – another unchallenged header hitting the back of the net. It was then a case of how many for a Liverpool side quickly rebooting their history.
Brighton though should have clawed a goal back before the break when Dunk was left completely free from a Dan Burn cross only to scuff his shot wide with Alisson fearing the worst.
Roberto Firmino’s Anfield famine continues – he hasn’t scored there this season – Ryan twice denying him while Sadio Mane and Alex Oxladechamberlain also suffered. Brighton though refused to be buried and when Alisson helped their cause racing outside his box as substitute Leandro Trossard moved onto a lofted clearance, an instinctive illegal hand from the keeper sealing his red.
It means he misses the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night while Brighton were left to ponder what might have been.
Boss Graham Potter said: “We showed personality and courage. We’re disappointed to come away with nothing.”
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 7, Alexander-arnold 8, Lovren 7, Van Dijk 9, Robertson 7, Henderson 7, Wijnaldum 7, Oxlade-chamberlain 7 (Adrian 77), Salah 6 (Lallana 68, 6), Firmino 6 (Origi 75, 6), Mane 7. Subs not used: Milner, Keita, Gomez, Shaqiri. BRIGHTON: Ryan 7, Montoya 7 (Alzate 68, 6), Dunk 6, Webster 6, Burn 6, Stephens 6, Propper 7, Gross 7, Mooy 7, Bissouma 6 (Trossard 68, 6), Connolly 7 (Maupay 77).
Subs not used: Button, Duffy, Murray, Schelott. MAN OF THE MATCH: Virgil van Dijk. Two goals to add to his burgeoning reputation. An Anfield colossus.
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson 7.