Liverpool wins without Salah and finally gets a glimpse of its 364 million pound transfer spree paying off

There was a match in which, finally, all of Liverpool's new pieces clicked at once. It was the 2-0 win over Brighton, and the strange part is that not once was Mohamed Salah's name heard at Anfield. The Egyptian left, cutting his own contract a year early, and the club simply kept moving forward.

Sunday's result left behind more than three points: it offered the first clear sign that Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo are starting to click on the field. Together, they represent 364 million pounds (about 487 million dollars) spent over two summers, and until now it had been hard to see them function as a unit. The opening goal came from a Wirtz shot that deflected in and broke the deadlock; the second was scored by Isak, assisted by Barcola, and was, in the words of the locker room itself, the best moment of the match. With that goal, Isak has now scored in six of his last six league matches. And there was still an ace up the sleeve on the bench: 18 year old English winger Rio Ngumoha, who had been decisive in the previous two matches.

Virgil van Dijk, the team's captain and leader in the locker room, was direct when asked about Salah's absence. There is no nostalgia, he says, and there shouldn't be.

I think that's the reality. What Mo did for so many years as a winger, I don't think anyone can replicate that. Hopefully it happens again, but what he did was something incredible. Same with Sadio (Mane) and Bobby (Roberto Firmino).Virgil van Dijk

Salah, 34, left behind an enormous pile of scoring records at Liverpool and is now running at a pace of 10 goals in 10 matches with his new club, Trabzonspor. But for van Dijk, the message is different: looking backward builds nothing.

We can always think things were better before, but that's not the mentality that should exist at a club like Liverpool, and I don't think it ever has been. The club always moves forward at some point, and there are always players who are going to shine and perform for the team. Now it's up to the ones who are here to show it every three or four days.Virgil van Dijk

The defense is also being rebuilt

The change isn't only up front. At the back, Liverpool has also been reshaped: on-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo adapted almost immediately at right back, while Jeremy Jacquet, signed from Rennes for 60 million pounds (about 80 million dollars) at just 21 years old, is starting to look like a smart purchase.

He's doing things really well. He just has to keep going like this and we'll see where the ceiling is. I don't think he's reached it yet, so he should keep working.Virgil van Dijk

The win over Brighton put Liverpool in the Premier League top four, with a fourth clean sheet so far this season. The only stumble to date came at home, against Manchester City. The challenge, as van Dijk puts it, is to repeat this level every three or four days. Difficult, yes, but also, according to the captain, a challenge they enjoy.