The complaining and critiquing aimed at Liverpool for not winning in style neglects the fact that winning a championship, more often than not, includes grinding out results in difficult situations regardless of the aesthetic appeal.

There was little to remember about the Premier League’s leaders’ win in Brighton over the Seagulls except the result: A hard earned 1-0 through a Mohamed Salah penalty kick (14th league goal of the season), that once again puts Liverpool 7 points clear at the top, at least until Manchester City face Wolves on Monday.

This win brought out the usual chorus of critics that apparently expect a club shouldering the burden of not winning the championship since 1990 to win every match and do it by a 3 goals margin and while playing reckless football. 

In short – they want the Liverpool of some big matches of last season while being perfect defensively. In short, they want the impossible.

Liverpool are winning. Some victories are more impressive than others. It doesn’t matter. The Reds have the best goal difference in the league, are scoring 2.27 goals per match. They scored at a slightly lesser rate last season (2.21 goals per match), while their final goal difference (+46, 1.21 per match) will be surpassed this season most likely.

The only thing that should matter is the rate of the team picking up points. Liverpool have 57 of a possible 66 points, dropping 3 points at Manchester City, and 6 more in draws against Chelsea (away), Arsenal (away) and Man City again (at home). Last season, after 22 matches Liverpool had only 44 points out of a possible 66, with Anfield being nowhere the fortress it is this season.

To summarize – Jurgen Klopp and the vast majority of Liverpool fans welcome “ugly” 1-0 wins from now until the end of the season with open arms. If it keeps them above Manchester City, it’s all good.