Liverpool are edging closer to the Champions League places after a big 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
What a difference a week can make. Last Saturday, the Reds were dealing with the fallout of Mohamed Salah’s bombshell interview.
Now, Salah has returned to the team and featured off the bench against the Seagulls, providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second of the day.
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Who was your man of the match during Liverpool’s impressive 2-0 win over Brighton?
Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Brighton in the Premier League at Anfield.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Ekitike has been praised for his efforts and now sits on 10 goals for the season, with Liverpool’s squad, on the whole, looking much better.
They climbed up to sixth place after the 3pm kick-offs, two behind Chelsea, who beat Everton.
Danny Murphy highlights Curtis Jones’ importance after Brighton
A key part of their very recent mini-resurgence has been Curtis Jones.
Jones was excellent against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and carried that form into the Brighton win.
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The central midfielder has now earned plaudits from former Liverpool man Danny Murphy.
Speaking to BBC Sport after Saturday’s clash, Murphy was quick to stress Jones’ importance to the team now.
He said: “I think what I took from today and midweek was the importance of Curtis Jones.
“I thought he was brilliant again, setting the tone without the ball and great with it.
“I also think Wirtz had another good first half or 60 minutes because he got a bit leggy at the end.”
What did you read into Salah’s full-time reaction at Anfield today?
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool pats the Liverpool badge on his shirt after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Will he play for Liverpool again?
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Curtis Jones’ stat vs Brighton
The 24-year-old has been in and out of the team this season, but to Slot’s credit, making him a regular starter in the pivot next to Ryan Gravenberch has worked wonders for Liverpool.
They have now kept two clean sheets in a row, and their midfield and attack, specifically Jones and Florian Wirtz, are linking up so much better in the last week.
His stats against the South Coast outfit are, as you would expect, pretty good.
Jones had a passing accuracy of 94% on the day, with 36 of those being completed in the opposition half.
He had 96 touches, which was the most of any player from Slot’s team on the day.
The Englishman also completed six defensive actions, and Sofascore gave him a 7.4 rating.
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