Anfield announcement moments after FT makes impact as Liverpool get serious

Anfield announcement moments after Brighton comeback makes impact as Liverpool get serious

Liverpool match verdict by Paul Gorst after a huge Premier League victory sees Arne Slot's side go back to the top of the table

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If the first and second biggest cheers of the day were reserved for the goals of Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah here in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Brighton, the third was unmistakably heard moments after the full-time whistle.

"Elsewhere in the Premier League, it finished Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester City."

Cue something approaching pandemonium on the Kop.

The old master George Sephton knew exactly what he was doing as played to the gallery and the fact that no other Premier League scoreline was read out revealed as much. But there was also a similarly pleasing result for Reds fans earlier in the day when Arsenal were sent packing from Newcastle with a 1-0 defeat.

How significant this day might be then in the grand scheme of things is still anyone's guess, but it may yet prove to be instructive to what comes next for Liverpool as they edged a nervy encounter to come away with another Premier League victory. Twenty-five points from a possible 30 is enough evidence to claim that this is a serious team, with serious ambitions.

The second - and most important - clash with Brighton of the week saw the Reds emerge winners of Arne Slot's 15th game as head coach, which was his 13th victory in charge. A win rate of 87% may be unrealistic to keep up for the long term but it has been quite an extraordinary start for the Dutchman at Anfield.

Even more so when you factor in the widely held belief outside of the Liverpool bubble that the club would struggle to emerge from the long shadow of Jurgen Klopp in the same way that both Arsenal and Manchester United did when Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson walked away.

Over a decade on, the appointment of their seventh manager in Ruben Amorim this week is proof that the Old Trafford hierarchy are still finding it difficult to source an adequate successor for the legendary Ferguson, who was even relieved of his own ambassadorial duties at the club last month.

So while it remains the embryonic stages of Slot's Anfield tenure, his adaptation to one of the most demanding roles in European football should be applauded as loudly as the decision to bring him in by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes. The task of replacing an icon is no easy task, so Liverpool's progress in these early post-Klopp months should be highlighted. It certainly bodes well for the future.

The game itself saw a remarkably sloppy and sluggish first half where the visitors dominated and they deservedly took the lead when Ferdi Kadioglu wrapped home at the back post after Kaoru Mitoma's low ball into the box was nudged on by Danny Welbeck into the Turkey international's path.

Darwin Nunez had earlier almost scored a blistering solo goal but was denied by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. That was about as close as the Reds came in a disjointed and error-strewn first period.

A much-improved second period saw Slot's side fly out of the traps and carve out big chances for Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk and first Joe Gomez, whose header at the Kop End drew expectant gasps at the potential for his first-ever Reds goal after nine years of service. Spoilsport Verbruggen held the effort.

Gomez was outstanding upon his introduction for Ibrahima Konate, who left the field in considerable discomfort nursing what is thought to be a shoulder issue. Slot was evasive when asked about the France international at full time but Gomez deserves immense credit for this performance considering he has barely featured this term, certainly as a Premier League centre-half at least.

Salah spurned the biggest opportunity of the lot before the equaliser came and as the decibel levels rose and the chances started to arrive more frequently, it was Gakpo who somewhat fortuitously curled in the leveller when his cross evaded everyone to nestle into the far corner.

If that was a slice of good fortune, however, the second goal was sheer class from Salah and substitute Curtis Jones, with the Egyptian curling home a special strike to cap a sublime move that also involved fellow sub Luis Diaz.

Slot deserves big praise for how he handled the substitutions here as they steered what was a tough game their way to secure what might be a priceless three points in the long run. Jones, Diaz and Gomez were all worthy of note before Wataru Endo helped tighten things up when it mattered late on.

Having seen Arsenal stumble at Newcastle United in the day's early fixture, Liverpool didn't look the gift horse in the mouth as they duly put seven points between themselves and one of the two sides who finished above them last term.

It may be too soon in the early jousting of the season to say Mikel Arteta's men no longer harbour hopes of a realistic title charge but it's also fair to say that the Reds have absolutely taken advantage of what has been a poor start full of indiscipline and indifference at the Emirates.

Is this now a two-horse race with champions City once more? Not yet, but the Gunners are now walking the sort of tightrope that a consistent, hungry Liverpool will relish.

Two clear of an imperfect City and seven above a labouring Arsenal, life at Liverpool is working out perfectly for Slot it seems. Whatever happens in the coming months at the summit of the table, though, this early period has shown the long-term future is hugely promising.

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