Virgil at the double to extend Reds’ advantage
liverpool 2
Van Dijk (18, 24)
brigHton 1
Dunk (79)
Jurgen Klopp hailed a special victory after his Liverpool side extended their Premier League lead to 11 points with a nervy win over Brighton.
The Reds were cruising to victory at Anfield after two first-half Virgil van Dijk goals, but the sending off of goalkeeper Alisson Becker and a crafty Lewis Dunk free-kick made for a tense finish.
In the end the hosts held on with 10 men and with back-up goalkeeper Adrian on the field on what was a freezing afternoon in Merseyside.
Manager Klopp said: “We scored two nice goals from set plays, but the biggest chances we had were from open play. We could have and should have finished it off in that period, and we didn’t.
“In the second half it was hard work again and the boys put in another incredible shift.
“Of course life became more complicated with the red card and the change we had to make.
“We brought on a frozen goalkeeper. Everyone sitting here was not warm. Imagine going on there with shorts, a really thin shirt and gloves that are not made for keeping you warm.
“Then some people make the free-kick happen like that. We looked a bit silly in that moment, but you have to accept it.
“We carried on fighting and Adrian helped us with two really good saves and crosses he caught, but with his cold feet he couldn’t kick the ball as far as he wanted.
“It kept it interesting, but in the end the most important thing is we won the game. I am very pleased about that, happy about the effort of the boys and proud of the desire they showed. The red card made it a really special win.”
Liverpool broke through after 18 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped in a superb free-kick for van Dijk to head home.
Van Dijk was at his inspirational best again when he doubled the lead after 24 minutes. The assist again came from Alexander-Arnold, this time from a corner, swung temptingly into the box and met unerringly by van Dijk.
In the 76th minute, Alisson came out of his area as Leandro Trossard chased a long ball downfield, and the Brazilian keeper was adjudged to have handled as he touched it away from the Belgian.
Referee Martin Atkinson showed Alisson a straight red, forcing immediate changes as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sacrificed for Adrian.
Liverpool were still reorganising when Dunk caught them unawares with a clever low free-kick into the bottom corner.
That left them needing to play out the final 10 minutes with 10 men but, despite Brighton pushing them back, they held on.
Liverpool’s victory equalled the club’s record of 31 top-flight games unbeaten, set in 1987-88. That run ended with defeat to rivals Everton, their opponents in their next game on Wednesday.
Alisson will now miss that derby through suspension. Liverpool have also not kept a clean sheet in 12 matches in all competitions, but Klopp is concerned primarily about results.
He said: “None of these 13 games we have won was easy. We didn’t feel that for a second.
“It is not as though we feel ourselves as favourites in some games. We fight for the result.”
Brighton boss Graham Potter was pleased with the performance of his side, but felt they paid the price for some lapses.
He said: “We put a lot into the game against a top team. I’m very proud of the effort and what we tried to do.
“We started OK, but not good enough for how we really want to be. Two set plays made the scoreline 2-0 and you have to survive some moments.
“Over the course of the 90 minutes we did a lot well. Lots to be positive about, but still disappointed to lose.”