Player Ratings: Liverpool’s Dominant Performance Against Brighton

omidbasir- **Alisson Becker (7/10):**
Alisson delivered a crucial save against Diego Gomez during injury time at the end of the first half, followed by another significant intervention from a Lewis Dunk header shortly after the interval.

**Curtis Jones (8/10):**
With Liverpool facing a shortage of options at right-back, Jones stepped up impressively. He defended well, despite a near costly slip, and importantly made a perfectly timed run into the area to open the scoring for his team. He later transitioned into midfield after Wirtz’s substitution.

**Ibrahima Konate (7/10):**
Although he committed a couple of fouls, Konate also won several through sheer determination. His distribution was notably improved tonight, reflecting his recent progress on the pitch.

**Virgil van Dijk (7/10):**
In a characteristically dominant display, the captain showcased his aerial prowess and was largely flawless, contributing significantly to the team’s defensive stability.

**Milos Kerkez (8/10):**
Kerkez posed a threat on multiple occasions before delivering an exceptional cross that led to Jones’ goal. This marked his second assist in three games, and he has shown marked improvement in his defensive duties since the start of the season.

**Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):**
Starting in a deeper midfield role, Szoboszlai’s impact on the game was undeniable. His fierce first-time finish was well-deserved, reinforcing his status as one of the best players globally, as acknowledged by Salah.

**Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):**
Following a strong performance against Sunderland, Mac Allister maintained his energy against a formidable Brighton midfield. He excelled in duels and delivered an impressive long pass for Kerkez from deep in his own half.

**Florian Wirtz (5/10):**
Though he pressed effectively at times, Wirtz was largely quiet and failed to influence the game significantly. A week’s rest may benefit him after his recent performances.

**Mohamed Salah (8/10):**
Salah displayed glimpses of his former brilliance, especially in the second half where he assisted Szoboszlai’s goal with a delightful lay-off and won and converted a penalty, indicating a return to form. He received a standing ovation from Anfield when substituted in the 77th minute.

**Federico Chiesa (5/10):**
Chiesa’s effort was commendable, but he struggled to link play effectively, highlighting that he is not a natural center-forward, making his role challenging.

**Cody Gakpo (6/10):**
Despite having a header disallowed for offside, Gakpo contributed to the second goal with a well-executed cross-field ball to Salah, although he needs to improve his decision-making in the final third.

**Joe Gomez (6/10):**
Returning from injury, Gomez took over at right-back from Jones and performed adequately in the final 20 minutes of the match.

**Hugo Ekitike (N/A):**
Ekitike replaced Chiesa for the last 15 minutes but did not manage to get involved in goal-scoring opportunities.

**Rio Ngumoha (N/A):**
The young talent came on for Salah and was unfortunate to see a well-executed finish ruled out due to a controversial offside decision.

**Calvin Ramsay (N/A):**
Ramsay was brought on during the dying minutes of the game.

**Trey Nyoni (N/A):**
Nyoni made his appearance alongside Ramsay, adding to the team’s fresh legs in the closing stages.

**Arne Slot (7/10):**
Slot selected a strong lineup and, following a lackluster first half, witnessed his team secure a comfortable victory, which could be pivotal for the remainder of the season, particularly with Salah’s resurgence.