Salah strike beats Brighton to send Liverpool top

Jurgen Klopp branded goalkeeper Alisson "not cool" for a moment of audacious skill as Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Brighton, although the Anfield manager quickly forgave his Brazilian star.

Alisson chipped the ball over the head of Brighton's Anthony Knockaert late in a slightly nervous victory that took Klopp's side to the summit for the first time since November 2016.

It was a bold move and one which, given the disaster that befell his predecessor Loris Karius in the Champions League Final in May, had a few Liverpool supporters gasping anxiously.

But the Brazilian, signed for a then world record fee for a goalkeeper of USD 65 million ($83 million) from Roma this summer, played a perfect pass to Virgil van Dijk, clearing up the danger and drawing huge cheers from the home supporters.

Alisson also made a stunning late save from Pascal Gross that ensured Mohamed Salah's first-half goal was enough to earn a third straight win -- and third consecutive clean sheet -- for Liverpool, with Klopp admitting he was more in favour of that than his skill on the ball.

"That's not too cool for a manager, but it worked so then it's cool," said Klopp.

"I've had a few centre-halves who were able to do things centre-halves should not be able to do -- like Mats Hummels -- and now I have Alisson. He is a goalkeeper but he can obviously play football, which is good."
"But I liked the save more than the chip, although the chip was the right thing to do in that situation so that's fine."
"We said goodbye yesterday," said Klopp. "He was really looking forward to it and that's good for him. I really think Lorius is a fantastic goalkeeper and he's a good age for a 'keeper."
- Salah finish -
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"And I knew before the game that we still have a lot of work to do and now more people know that as well. But I have no problem with that."
"It was a big test because obviously Brighton thought 'let's pick Joe Gomez for long balls' and the challenge with (Glenn) Murray but Joe did really well. I don't think he made one foul and won 70 or 80 per cent of them."