Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their first goal from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
(Reuters) - Liverpool went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and bounced back from two successive defeats in all competitions after a Mohamed Salah penalty gave them a 1-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The result put Liverpool on 57 points from 22 games, seven ahead of closest rivals Manchester City who are at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday. Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have 48 points, host Manchester United on Sunday.
Manager Juergen Klopp was pleased with the outcome and the performance which he described as a "really nice song if not an opera of football".
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
"We learned from the first half and the second half was better," Klopp told the BBC.
"It was a mature performance from my side. This season it is quite a new skill and I'd like us to keep that.
"It was very hard but that is how it is. Everyone knows how difficult it is to go to Brighton."
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action with Brighton's Gaetan Bong REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Liverpool were clinical if unimpressive on the south coast, having lost 2-1 at City in their previous league outing before being beaten by Wolves in the FA Cup third round by the same scoreline.
After a dour first half, Salah produced a moment of trademark individual skill to win the spot kick he converted five minutes into the second half after Pascal Gross had fouled him following the Egyptian's neat footwork in the penalty area.
Xherdan Shaqiri, who got a rare start on the right flank in a reshuffled 4-2-3-1 formation, missed Liverpool's best chance in the opening half when he headed just wide after Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Brighton's Shane Duffy in action with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
As Brighton threw men forward in the closing stages, Liverpool twice came close to scoring again with the home team's goalkeeper David Button parrying Roberto Firmino's effort before Salah misfired wide from five metres.
Klopp singled out Alexander-Arnold, who picked up an ankle injury in the warm-up but played through the pain for the full 90 minutes.
"It was a shock in that moment," said the German. "It was the last situation of the warming up. He wants to play so he doesn't say immediately.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Brighton's Davy Propper Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
"On the way in we thought he couldn't play so James Milner did a warm-up but it was a brilliant decision from the medical staff and Trent. He played well."
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ken Ferris and Clare Fallon)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with Brighton's Martin Montoya REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Alisson in action with Brighton's Glenn Murray Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Brighton's Anthony Knockaert in action with Liverpool's Andrew Robertson Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in action with Brighton's Lewis Dunk and David Button Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino in action with Brighton's Dale Stephens Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in action with Brighton's Jurgen Locadia Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their first goal from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Brighton's Pascal Gross in action with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal with Jordan Henderson REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - January 12, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane shoots at goal as Brighton's Shane Duffy attempts to block Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
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