Three games, three wins. Seven goals scored, none conceded. Top of the league.

It all sounds so simple for Liverpool.

But it was far from that and it's fair to say Anfield was glad to hear the final whistle when it finally arrived.

Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Show all 23 1 /23 Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool 1-0 Brighton LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Alisson - 7 His neat footwork was once again on display as he kicked off attacks from the back. He already has a strong command of his penalty area and caught a couple of crosses to ease the pressure the defenders in front of him. Showed a nice bit of skill to cheekily lift the ball over Knockaert as the Brighton man tried to close him down. Made an important save in the last minute to keep Liverpool ahead. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7 Hit the crossbar with an early free kick that was swirling to take it away from the Brighton goalkeeper. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Virgil van Dijk - 6 Was not given too much of a test in defence, but he did show his quality with some very precise cross-field passes to switch the play. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Joe Gomez - 6 After only a few games together, Gomez and Van Dijk appear to be forming a very good partnership. Another good performance from Gomez who may begin to feel that he deserves a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad when he announces it next week. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Andy Robertson - 7 Pretty much played as a winger and tried to channel his inner Luke Shaw by attempting to produce a carbon copy of the United left back’s goal against Leicester, with less success. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Naby Keita - 6 An early shout for signing of the season. Keita’s energy made it incredibly hard for Brighton to move up the pitch with the ball and he won the ball in good areas on several occasions. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 Dropped the deepest of the midfield three to keep things ticking over with some nice touches and flicks. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 James Milner - 8 Was relentless in Liverpool’s midfield. His range of passing and crosses were once again very impressive. Became increasingly fed up with some of the Brighton challenges he was on the receiving end of. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Mohamed Salah - 7 This is becoming a familiar sight in the Premier League, again. Scored at Anfield for the second consecutive game with a precise low curling effort into the bottom corner. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Sadio Mane - 5 Almost scored when he met a cross but his header was tamer than it should have been. Was given very little space around the Brighton penalty area and unable to get to the grass behind the Liverpool defence. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Roberto Firmino - 5 Remains the only player of the formidable front three yet to score a Premier League goal this season. Brighton were defending deep and limited the Space between the midfield and defence which Firmino likes to lurk. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Matthew Ryan - 6 Should have done a lot better to prevent Salah’s goal. He got a hand to the low effort and should really have pushed it away, but instead he helped it into the bottom corner. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Martin Montoya - 6 Continues to look like a very decent acquisition for Brighton. Moved the ball on well and won his individual duels. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Shane Duffy - 6 Won a few important headers and defended well as part of a strong unit. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Leon Balogun - 6 Worked hard in the Brighton's organised defence and took no chances at the back. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Gaetan Bong - 6 Spent a lot of the game chasing Salah along the wing and was rarely given the chance to get forward. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Anthony Knockaert - 6 Should have scored when Murray’s cut-back pass fell at his feet, but he could not sort himself in time to hit the ball cleanly. Knelt behind Brighton’s wall when Alexander-Arnold was lining up a free kick on the edge of the box to prevent the ball from going under the wall. Genius idea. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Davy Propper - 6 Embarked on a couple of runs from deep but was left on his own and ultimately did not impact the game too much. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Dale Stephens - 6 Made a few tackles in midfield and looked on of Brighton’s best players on the ball with some nice distribution Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Yves Bissouma - 5 Showed glimpses of promise on the ball, but was at fault for Liverpool’s goal. He assumed a little too much time on the ball and was pressed into giving it away before Salah’s goal. A rude awakening to life in the Premier League. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Solly March - 6 Spent a lot of his evening chasing Alexander-Arnold along the wing and rarely got on the ball himself. Had an animated discussion with Bissouma over who will take an attacking free kick which had to be sorted by Bong. Getty Images Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Glenn Murray - 7 Worked very hard and in his own half more often than he ventured into Liverpool’s territory as he spent a large amount of time defending. Battled hard and created a chance for Brighton with some tenacious running to set up Knockaert who missed his effort. Getty Images

Indeed, it took a superb leap to his left by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to deny substitute Pascal Gross a Brighton equaliser with just a couple of minutes left on the clock. That's why you spend world record fees on keepers, of course.

The Brighton fans who had endured M6 chaos and no trains out of Euston to pack the away end got more than a run for their money.

This was not Liverpool at their electric, thrilling best. At times it was sloppy and disjointed, passes failing to find their mark, offering Brighton hope where there probably should have been none.

But it was nonetheless in the end that thing perhaps even more craved round these parts, the 1-0 win of a genuine title contender.

Perhaps three wins is no more than should have been expected from Liverpool after a Premier League schedule which has taken in a rebuilt West Ham, a tough but beatable Crystal Palace and a Brighton side so unsuccessful on their travels.

Mohamed Salah proved to be the difference in this game (AFP/Getty Images)

Yet it is difficult not to be positive about what is happening at Anfield. Klopp's side look like they will only get better too.

It has been Liverpool's tendency in the more frustrating years of their recent history to look gift horses in the mouth, to watch key rivals drop points only to fail to take advantage themselves.

This 2018 vintage may be rather different though. 'They've got a bit more about them' might be one early assessment.

Yes, it is early in the season, but make no mistake that Manchester City's hiccup earlier in the day at Molineux was a chance to be grasped here by Jurgen Klopp's side. Pep Guardiola's side won't drop many.

They did, though only just.

Brighton, buoyed by last week's sensational defeat of Manchester United last week, might have hoped to improve on an away record that is the worst in the Premier League since their return to the top flight.

Chris Hughton's side were diligent in their lines, with Dale Stephens and Yves Bissouma patrolling in front of their back four, and were keen to pass the ball when they had it.

That, though, can be a dangerous business at Anfield and when Bissouma dallied midway through the first period, James Milner appeared to put Liverpool on the attack.

Firmino fed Salah who delivered his trademark pass into the corner, via Matt Ryan's out-stretched hand. The Egyptian's 29th goal in 29 Anfield appearances - 'not too shabby' as his manager might say.

James Milner sees his cross from the right blocked (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The lead was no more than Liverpool deserved, having kept Ryan busy for most of the opening period.

We hadn't had five minutes when Salah teased on the right before squaring for Sadio Mane, whose low effort was just the wrong side of the post.

Anthony Knockaert, bringing up his century of league games with Brighton, almost responded instantly but his shot was too close to Alisson to overly concern the Liverpool goalkeeper.

But the traffic was mostly one-way.

Ryan needed to be at his best to deny Roberto Firmino - looking much closer to his best - as he met Andy Robertson's lovely curling cross with a dipping header while the Australian probably had Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick covered when he rattled the cross bar from the edge with a quarter of an hour gone.

Gini Wijnaldum warmed the Kop with some sensational skills in midfield before warming Ryan's palms once again with a shot on the turn a few minutes later.

Alisson's main danger in the first half was from Glenn Murray's pressure as the Brazilian pondered his next pass out from the back.

Perhaps he was just a little bored? Liverpool will have been a little disappointed to lead by just one at the break.

Sadio Mane attempts to get away from Yves Bissouma and Davy Proepper (Getty Images)

The second half started with music still playing loudly on the Anfield PA system and Brighton served swift notice they weren't about to go quietly either.

Knockaert fed Murray who bamboozled several defenders before finding a cross which eventually fell to the Frenchman once again. He shot wide when a goal looked more likely.

Liverpool weren't creating a lot: a tame Joe Gomez header and a low Firmino shot the only real chances to extend their advantage, though Shane Duffy almost continued Brighton's run of own goals against Liverpool when he turned Andy Robertson's cross just past his own post.

Henderson arrived for Keita as Klopp sought insurance but the Anfield nerves were jangling as the ball bobbed around Liverpool's area after a dangerous corner.

Alisson did little to settle them as he was almost caught with the ball at his feet but this is his modus operandi and the Liverpool keeper found a way out of trouble just as disaster beckoned.

Alexander-Arnold almost sealed it with five minutes left, his low shot deflected just wide, Firmino's flick from the resultant corner just lacking the power to get over the line.

Alisson did what he was bought for to deny Gross and maintain Liverpool's perfect start to the season.