LIVERPOOL survived a major scare to move 11 points clear the the top of the Premier League.
The Reds were cruising after Virgil van Dijk headed home two Trent Alexander-Arnold crosses.
Virgil van Dijk rose highest to power Liverpool aheadCredit: Reuters
Brighton couldn’t deal with Virgin van Dijk’s aerial prowessCredit: Reuters
But keeper Alisson had a moment of madness to handball outside the area and was shown a straight red card in the 76th minute.
Then three minutes later sub keeper Adrian watched as Lewis Dunk’s pinged home from a free-kick as Liverpool were trying to organise the wall.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side held on to bag the three points that moves them further clear of Manchester City at the top.
Barring Alisson’s rush of blood, it proved to a perfect day for Klopp and his troops.
In the early kick-off Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle as Jonjo Shelvey rescued the Magpies three minutes from time.
Virgil van Dijk’s second goal wasn’t much different from his firstCredit: Getty
It was two and easy for Liverpool’s dominant centre-halfCredit: Reuters
The tension of the closing moments at Anfield was in contrast to most of the game, which Liverpool controlled with little alarm.
They did start slowly with an Andy Robertson shot well over the bar and a Salah effort into the side-netting all they produced in the opening 15 minutes.
But Brighton offered little and once the hosts upped the tempo they could not contain them.
They broke through after 18 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped in a superb free-kick for Van Dijk to head home.
Brighton keeper Mat Ryan paid for a moment’s hesitancy as the Dutchman’s header looped over him and into the net.
Ryan then had a busy spell as he turned a Firmino shot behind and then denied Sadio Mane moments later.
Alisson rushed out and handled the ball outside his areaCredit: Reuters
The referee had little choice but to send off the BrazilianCredit: Reuters
Van Dijk had an awkward moment when he mishit a clearance across his own goal but he 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.
Liverpool then eased off the gas and Brighton briefly threatened as Davy Propper forced a save from Alisson from distance but the first half ended with Firmino testing Ryan again.
The Seagulls had an opportunity early in the second half when Dunk glanced a header across goal from a corner.
SALAH ANGER AT SUB
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed good footwork in the area before Ryan turned his shot around the post and Alexander-Arnold had another effort deflected over.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp decided with 21 minutes remaining to give a rest to Salah, who has been troubled by an ankle injury in recent weeks, and replace him with Adam Lallana.
The Egyptian did not look pleased with the decision as he brushed past Klopp on his way to the bench.
He was soon followed by Firmino as Liverpool made another change.
Those substitutions may have been made with the best intentions, but they left the Reds looking light in attack after Alisson’s moment of madness changed the complexion of the game late on.
Alisson came out of his area as Leandro Trossard chased a long ball downfield and was adjudged to have handled as he touched it away from the Belgian.
Referee Martin Atkinson showed the Brazilian a straight red, forcing immediate changes as Oxlade-Chamberlain was sacrificed for deputy goalkeeper 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.
Lewis Dunk found a gap to pea roll a shot past AdrianCredit: Getty
The Brighton captain gets his team going to try and come back against LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
