Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 6y

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp: 'Nothing negative' about perfect Prem start

LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp says there is "nothing negative" about Liverpool winning their first three games of the season to move top of the Premier League after Saturday's 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Liverpool gained a two-point advantage over Manchester City after Mohamed Salah scored the only goal at Anfield to maintain the Reds' 100 percent winning record in 2018-19.

It represents Liverpool's best start to a league season since 2013-14 -- when Brendan Rodgers' team finished runners-up to City -- although Klopp stressed his side have plenty of hard work left over the coming months.

Asked if there was any significance to being top at this early stage, Klopp told a news conference: "No, apart from that it's an interesting moment in the season to be top of the table. No problem with that.

"Nine points after three games, I never heard anything negative about that to be honest. We didn't concede a goal. Nothing negative about that.

"But if you watch the games, you will see we have a lot of work to do still. No problem with that as well.

"First half was like I think it should be, good mindset, really patient in the right moments, creating moments, we scored the goal and could have scored more, while we didn't give them a chance.

"But then there was half-time. And after half-time, we didn't do exactly the same. Maybe it's my English or whatever, but we changed a little bit. It was not the best idea. We didn't show the same patience to play around, it looked like a more open game and there was absolutely no need for that.

"Then we controlled it again, which was good, and in the last 10 minutes or so they had their moments because we started passing through areas where there was no space.

"We won the game very deservedly. That's how it should be; 1-0 is not a result we had very often since I am here but I am happy with that. It was the best we could get today so, all good."

Earlier on Saturday, City dropped two points as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"I think Pep Guardiola said this week that [his] players are still not 100 percent fit, and we have exactly the same problem," Klopp added. "We cannot give the boys no summer break and then expect them to deliver at their best.

"These games are the most important sessions we have to become as fit as possible. That means it's clear: If you don't decide a match early it stays pretty exciting. Our concentration levels dropped a bit and after that we had a few wrong decisions.

"That's how it is. I can't remember a perfect football game, but it was good enough. We deserved the three points, and that's the most important thing. [I'm] really happy about that. I knew before the game that we had a lot of work to do. Now maybe you know it as well."

Goalkeeper Alisson helped preserve the vital three points with a save to deny Pascal Gross from close range in the 88th minute.

Before that crucial intervention, the £65 million Brazilian drew rapturous applause from the Anfield crowd when he calmly chipped the ball over Anthony Knockaert before passing to Virgil van Dijk.

"That's not too cool for a manager," Klopp said of the chip. "If it works then it's cool.

"I had a few centre halves who were able to do things a centre half should not do, like Mats Hummels, constantly doing things which made no sense, but he was really good in there.

"Alisson is obviously a goalkeeper who can play football, which is good. He's confident enough to do it. He didn't do it for showing off, he did it to sort the situation. He has a nice level of confidence, so he uses that.

"I like the save from the header more than the chip, but the chip was the right thing to do in that situation."

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