Swashbuckling Reds show steely side: Richard Buxton

Are you watching, Manchester?

Pep Guardiola may wish to take note of Liverpool's English Premier League title credentials - if he hasn't already.

A 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday morning (Singapore time) revealed a new dimension to Juergen Klopp's side; steel now exists where only swashbuckling once stood.

Beyond Mohamed Salah's decisive strike, thrill-seeking was in increasingly short supply.

The Reds appear happier with marginal gains than maintaining the premise of being entertaining also-rans, as they, Tottenham Hotspur and others have proved to be in recent years.

It took 21 long months for the Reds to again sit pretty atop English football's summit. Humiliating defeats, dodgy defending and error-strewn goalkeeping littered their pathway.

An unsustainable commitment to the physically-demanding gegenpressing style, which had elevated Klopp to prominence at Borussia Dortmund, also undermined those well-meaning intentions.

In just six days, however, the energetic German has masterminded victories from two potential banana-skin clashes against the Seagulls and a difficult trip to Crystal Palace.

They are unlikely to rank among the more exhilarating affairs of Liverpool's season, but a finely balanced side, blending key strengths in both defence and attack, has edged them ahead of Manchester City even at this early stage of what is likely to be a two-horse race.

Alisson is already proving worthy of direct comparisons with Anfield's most decorated goalkeeper.

Seasoned Kopites have longed for an heir apparent to Ray Clemence, but the Brazilian showed why they should instead have sought Bruce Grobbelaar's replacement.

Clemence's brand of goalkeeping was largely conservative while Grobbelaar specialised in the chaotic as an original sweeper-keeper, yet method vindicated the latter's bouts of madness.

Alisson already appears attuned with the eccentric Zimbabwean; regularly rushing out to thwart Brighton, notably as he ventured from goal to chip the ball over Anthony Knockaert, in addition to a string of impressive saves which would have been beyond those he replaced.

All that was missing from his repertoire was Grobbelaar's trademark walking handstand.

Should the former world-record shot-stopper's antics help Liverpool to a first championship in just shy of three decades, few would begrudge him the chance to indulge in such extravagance.

Supreme confidence is again soaring at Anfield; the danger is if, or when, it devolves into misguided arrogance or borderline insanity, as two of Klopp's predecessors notoriously fell afoul.

In 2013/14, Brendan Rodgers believed that outscoring opponents was Liverpool's scenic route to their Holy Grail.

A near-identical start to this campaign, with three victories and clean sheets in an opening run of matches, suggested that they would be able to go the distance.

But five points dropped in their final three games effectively gift-wrapped the EPL title for Manchester City.

Rafael Benitez, similarly, publicly took aim at Sir Alex Ferguson in an incredibly ham-fisted attempt to ramp up pressure on their fiercest rivals Manchester United in the 2008/09 title race.

Instead, the Spaniard's power-play backfired spectacularly and handed the advantage to Old Trafford.

On both occasions, Liverpool's closest competitors were afforded a free pass on rare missteps because they were serially incapable of using that impetus to their advantage.

Under Klopp's tutelage, a repeat is unlikely.

They have already capitalised on City conceding early ground in the title race with Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Guardiola's febrile approach ensures that the reigning champions will not be caught slipping up on too many occasions.

Neither will Liverpool.