Arne Slot has done a remarkable job in stamping his authority on his new employers given he has been operating in the shadow of his legendary predecessor. But this victory had all the hallmarks of a Jurgen Klopp classic.
The Mentality Monsters were back, to use the old phrase Klopp coined, as the Reds showed resilience in abundance as they fought back from a goal down – and a stinking first-half performance – to beat a spirited Brighton team and return to the Premier League’s summit.
Mohamed Salah was curling goals from the right-hand corner of the box just inside the far post, Liverpool were pressing like relentless dogs let off a leash and Joe Gomez was putting in an imperious performance at the heart of defence. This was the late 2010s all over again.
A brilliant Brighton led through Ferdi Kadioglu’s first-half strike and missed a plethora of chances to double their lead but, ultimately, Liverpool fought back via Cody Gakpo and Salah’s strikes to take advantage of slips from title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City.
Given the circumstances of the victory, one expected to see the Liverpool manager racing over to the Kop beating his chest. Nothing of the sort, of course, as Slot shared a warm embrace with his right-hand men and aimed a simple wave to the fans.
He is not here for show, Slot, and some have suspected his lowkey demeanour is allowing his team to go somewhat under the radar. But Slot’s business-like approach is winning over the fanbase, who sang his name along with chants of ‘Liverpool, top of the league’ at full-time.
They say the great Liverpool managers ‘get’ the club and this felt like the day he might have understood the folklore around the club, as the Kop almost sucked the ball into the net in a fightback performance this club is famed for.
Although he might surmise that this was his favourite day in the job so far – and possibly the proudest he has been as Liverpool boss given the fightback – Slot would have been left upset by the first-half showing. Brighton were exceptional and deserved their lead at the interval.
As the fourth official put up his board to indicate the amount of first-half stoppage time, one almost wondered if the Anfield crowd would boo their team off the pitch. They did not, of course, but the point hopefully highlights just how bad the home team were in the opening 45 minutes.
Fans inside the stadium had long been riled at their side’s sloppy performance, while the usually-calm Arne Slot looked agitated down on the touchline. They were misplacing passes aplenty, making half-hearted challenges and losing out in nearly every loose ball.
While Liverpool were distinctly average – less possession and just one shot on target in the first half – they were being strangled by their opposition. This was a clinic from Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton, who regularly played through the Reds midfield as if it was not there.
They led 1-0 at the break but it really could – probably should – have been more. The goal came from a front-to-back attack starting with Jan Paul Van Hecke which culminated, via a bit of lacklustre defending, with Ferdi Kadioglu hitting a peach of a first-time effort into the far corner.
The Turkish international’s shot bounced in off the post and left Caoimhin Kelleher with no chance, though the Irish goalkeeper was needed to pull off a big save minutes later when Georginio Rutter was sent through on goal.
On Halloween week, Liverpool’s defence and midfield were doing their best impression of ghosts as Brighton cut through them with ease. Take nothing away from the pass from Yasin Ayari, mind, as he set Rutter through on goal. It was a fine stop but Rutter should have scored.
Kadioglu had a chance to double his tally for the day after a sweeping move starring Kaoru Mitoma – the Japanese put in a spellbinding, mercurial performance on Brighton’s left – but the back-post volley ended up in the Kop. Danny Welbeck also saw a free-kick go inches wide.
The first half was best summed up when Trent Alexander-Arnold lost the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and Alexis Mac Allister needed to take one for the team to foul Welbeck. If he did not pull him down, the in-form Englishman was through on goal all of Liverpool’s own doing.
Whatever Slot said at half-time worked, though, as his team came out for the second half like a completely new team. Suddenly, they were passing with more intent and creating chances left, right and centre. The Anfield crowd responded and started to roar their team on.
Joe Gomez, who has never scored for Liverpool in more than 250 games, came on at the break after Ibrahima Konate hobbled off in pain – and the English defender nearly became the unlikely hero as he forced a smart save from Bart Verbruggen with his first touch of the ball.
That was the Dutch goalkeeper’s first stop of significance since the opening minutes when he tipped a curling Darwin Nunez effort round the post. But his hands were soon warmed up again as Liverpool started peppering his goal, Mac Allister also going close with a header.
A perfect Alexander-Arnold pass from deep put Virgil van Dijk – of all people – through on goal but the captain could not get the ball under control. Then Salah was set through on Verbruggen from a nice Nunez pass but his chipped attempt was palmed away by the goalkeeper.
But then, with two goals in three minutes – how many times have we seen a similar run of events at Anfield over the years? – Liverpool turned the game on its head. The first was rather lucky, as Gakpo’s attempted cross evaded everyone, red or blue shirt, and sailed in.
Brighton’s luck turned sour minutes later when Rutter kicked thin air with his attempted shot and bungled the ball to Liverpool, who counter-attacked with ferocity. Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz exchanged passes and then Salah had the ball on the right wing. You know the rest.
The Egyptian, as he has done so often over the last decade but less so in recent years, ran at the opposition left back – Pervis Estupinan was not the first to lose that battle – and curled a rasping strike into the goalkeeper’s top right corner.
Another week, another record for Salah, who is now eighth on the all-time Premier League scorers chart, leaping past former Liverpool great Robbie Fowler. Next in his sights are Thierry Henry (11 ahead) and Frank Lampard (13). Knowing Salah, that will not take him long.
He was by far the man of the match here for his second-half display but Gomez also deserves immense praise for his sturdy display at the back. Above all, though, Slot won this game with his half-time team talk and substitutions.
