Van Dijk’s double puts Liverpool in eleventh heaven
LIVERPOOL have nothing to fear except fear itself. That and possibly the antics of their goalkeepers.
Otherwise, they are in a formidable position. We have barely opened up the advent calendars and Liverpool are 11 points clear. That is a gigantic lead. They may need it, given the quality of Manchester City.
Yet, though it feels quite wrong to address this a mere 14 games into the season, that elusive title — the end of a 30-year wait — becomes ever more tantalising with every win and every City slip-up.
At this stage in their record-breaking 2017-18 season, where they accumulated 100 points, City also had 40 points, as Liverpool have now — but an eight-point lead. That is the scale of what Liverpool are doing at present.
That said, the Anfield side made a straightforward afternoon fraught with the needless sending-off of Alisson and inattention of his replacement, Adrian.
The Kop’s roar of relief which greeted the three points was much more pronounced than it should have been.
‘At times, you could sense Anfield had to get behind them and that’s an indication of how we played,’ said Brighton manager Graham Potter.
He was right, in that his players were worthy opponents of a very good side. Yet no team can concede twice from similar set-pieces in six minutes and expect much.
Still, Liverpool’s nerves were frazzled by the end. In added time, Adrian fumbled Pascal Gross’s header and, for a moment, it looked as if he would not recover.
Neal Maupay was closing in and the ball was squirming around, ready to bounce across the goal-line.
Just as the worst seemed about to unfold for the goalkeeper, he somehow snatched the ball to his chest and all Anfield exhaled in relief. If it is like this now, with such a substantial lead, how will it feel if City close the gap?
Which is why Jurgen Klopp keeps trying to put it all in perspective, despite the momentum gathering.
‘None of these 13 games we won this season was easy,’ he said. ‘We did not think that for a second.
‘Result-wise, it’s an incredible period. But we don’t want to think about the last 14 games, we want to think about the next one, which is Everton, another big fight.
‘People told me we’re now 11 points ahead. Leicester play tomorrow (at home to Everton), so it’s still eight. That’s how I see it.’
Twenty two wins from their last 23 Premier League games is quite an unnatural state of affairs.
Yet there is an inertia about this Liverpool side, not in the sluggish sense but in that, once they get going, they are very hard to stop.
Take the two goals that secured them their win. In the 18th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold lined up a free-kick outside the penalty area.
It is not as though you do not know what is coming: Virgil van Dijk was hovering. A colossus, even standing alongside the not inconsiderable Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster.
The ball, as we all know, would be dinked in by Alexander-Arnold in the direction of Van Dijk.
Everything transpired precisely as anticipated. The Dutch defender timed his run to baffle Webster and loop a header over keeper Mat Ryan.
Same again, six minutes later; a corner taken by Alexander-Arnold. Who might he be aiming at? Van Dijk was there, meeting the ball and directing it past Ryan. Predictable, yet inevitable in its conclusion.
Sadio Mane had a fine chance in the first half and should have scored.
Nevertheless, throughout the second half it seemed Liverpool were meandering to victory. Then came the odd turn of events late on.
Leandro Trossard battled for a long ball with Dejan Lovren. The Brighton forward got a flick on it.
Alisson, way out of the penalty box, panicked and stuck out a hand.
A red card was inevitable, so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sacrificed and Adrian came on.
It did not start well. He was busy lining up his wall when Dunk opted to take a quick free-kick and simply passed it into the corner of the net.
Adrian then saved well from Aaron Mooy in 87 minutes but there was still that added-time fumble.
Liverpool survived that scare. Just five months to go to see if they can exorcise the real ghost that haunts them. LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Adrian 78), Henderson; Wijnaldum, Salah (Lallana 69), Firmino (Origi 76); Mane.
Subs (not used): Milner, Keita, Gomez, Shaqiri. Booked: None.
Sent off: Alisson. BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Ryan; Montoya (Alzate 69), Webster, Dunk, Burn; Propper, Stephens, Bissouma (Trossard 69), Gross; Connolly (Maupay 76), Mooy.
Subs (not used): Duffy, Murray, Schelotto, Button. Booked: None.
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Attendance: 53,319.