The four unsung heroes from Liverpool’s perfect Premier League start

After a battling performance, Liverpool beat Brighton 1-0.

It wasn’t easy going for Jurgen Klopp’s men at Anfield as Brighton came and set themselves up in a deep block, but broke with true purpose and never really let Liverpool settle. The Reds had to scrap and fight from the first minute to the last to secure their 1-0 win, and at no point did the result look a foregone conclusion.

But Liverpool did hold on and did get the 1-0 win. The result sent them top of the table, three wins from three games, 7 goals scored and most impressively of all: 0 goals conceded. That is an impressive run no matter who you are, and instantly praise is being heaped on the stars of the side; Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Sadio Mané; new boys Naby Keita and Alisson too.

James Milner

James Milner is 32 years-old, the veteran of Klopp’s Liverpool squad. A hard-working grinder of a player, he’s always made himself available to fill whatever hole Liverpool needed him to. When Klopp first arrived on Merseyside, Milner played left-back. Now that role is properly stocked, Milner is free to play in his natural midfield position.

No one thought that Milner would play all that much given Liverpool’s high-priced additions to midfield, but when the first day of training came around it was once again the veteran who showed everyone up in the lactic acid test, being last man standing. And he’s been immense for Liverpool since the actual football has started.

With Fabinho taking his time to adapt to Premier League football and Jordan Henderson being behind everyone else due to his extra holiday following his World Cup exertions, Liverpool have needed a committed athlete in there and Milner has been the man. He started all three games, and smashed home Liverpool’s opening goal away to Crystal Palace. Against Brighton he was committed in the tackle (his pressing of Yves Bissouma is what led to Liverpool’s only goal) and kept things ticking over with the ball at his feet, too.

Joe Gomez

The World Cup and various physical woes have meant that Liverpool entered the Premier League season without Dejan Lovren or Joel Matip to partner Virgil Van Dijk. Even a defender as good as the Dutchman (and you can be sure he’s taken all of the plaudits for Liverpool’s improved defensive solidity) needs an able partner, and Liverpool have found that man has been Joe Gomez.

Well, young man, really.

Gomez is just 21 years old and was breaking through at right-back before injury derailed his progress. When he returned to fitness he found Trent Alexander-Arnold as the new wonderkid in town, and so his reputation fell away. But this season has shown just what he offers: magnificently solid defending.

Gomez is naturally a centre-back, and has thrived next to Van Dijk. The Dutchman is obviously the standout performer but Gomez has been a consistent and steady partner. Today against Brighton he’s been throwing in big blocks and tackles to help keep a leash on the likes of Glenn Murray. It was telling that when Joel Matip was introduced as Liverpool looked to hold on, Gomez stayed on the field and was moved to right-back. Klopp knows how solid a defender he is.

Georginio Wijnaldum

With the exception of Fabinho wearing the no. 3 instead of Andrew Robertson and whatever the hell Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deal is, Liverpool have some outstandingly moral shirt numbering this season. Before the season it looked like Georginio Wijnaldum wearing the no. 5 instead of handing it over to Fabinho (forcing him to take the no. 3) seemed like it was just as bad, but the season so far has said otherwise.

Wijnaldum has held midfield for Liverpool with consummate professionalism in all three of the games played this season. Against Brighton he was probably the most confident Liverpool midfielder with the ball at his feet. He played the pivot spot with some defensive open-ness, but his ability with the ball ensures that the Reds were constantly getting onto the front foot and charging forward at Brighton.

Andrew Robertson

Jurgen Klopp didn’t used to sign left-backs. He used to either inherit them or convert wingers to play there; as he did with James Milner at Liverpool. But then he signed Andrew Robertson from Hull, and people were a bit confused. Why were Liverpool signing someone from Hull? After all they had just been relegated and Liverpool were trying to chase the Title.

Robertson took his time to settle into life at Anfield too, but by the end of the season he had morphed into what Liverpool dreamed he could have been: a relentlessly solid full-back. This season he has been an ever-present for Liverpool but the only way he stands out is because he’s wearing no. 28 – it’s just so easy to overlook how good he is because he does so much thankless work that gets lost.

He’s a constant outlet on the left as Sadio Mané peels centrally – but when he gets the ball he only takes as many touches as he needs to ping a cross away as quickly as he can. Usually it’s one-touch, but he doesn’t dwell. Against Brighton his lung-bursting run, sprinting half the length of the pitch, provided an option for his team. The ball was fed to him and he controlled it then whipped a cross in – the cross was deflected and won the Reds a corner, instantly relieving so much pressure Liverpool were on. Minutes later he even made a striker-esque diagonal run into the box later on, feeding a pass back across that fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold really should have buried.

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