Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Jurgen Klopp has made his first changes of the season for Liverpool 's trip to Leicester.
Jordan Henderson returns for the Reds to make his first start of the season as boss Klopp shuffled his pack for Saturday's clash at the King Power.
The midfielder replaced Naby Keita , who starts on the bench, for the match with the unbeaten Reds aiming to stay top of the Premier League .
Show all 23 1 /23Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool vs Brighton Player Ratings 25-08-2018 Liverpool 1-0 Brighton
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
"I thought it made sense for the game today," Klopp said ahead of the game. "We have to [be], if you want, rock solid, in all departments because Leicester is a good football-playing side, so we need to defend very well, to be really compact and all different things so it helps when the boys are used to this.
"This midfield played pretty much the last third of the last season unchanged, so that’s the reason. On the other hand, it’s about being fresh and all that stuff."
For the hosts, Rachid Ghezzal was handed his first Premier League start while Marc Albrighton returned as Daniel Amartey and Kelechi Iheanacho dropped to the bench for Leicester.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies