Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool’s “most mature performance of the season” after they got their title challenge back on track by grinding out an unconvincing 1-0 win at Brighton.

Klopp’s table-topping Reds have stuttered since the turn of the year, losing their unbeaten Premier League record to champions Manchester City before limping out of the FA Cup at Wolves.

The Merseyside club were far from their best at the Amex Stadium but Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty was enough to restore their seven-point lead over second-placed City.

Klopp admitted his side can perform better but dismissed the lack of entertainment against stubborn opposition by saying they “are not the Harlem Globetrotters”.

“It was not the best performance of the season in a few departments but from a maturity point of view, I would say it is the most mature performance in the season,” he said.

“We are not Circus Roncalli, we are not the Harlem Globetrotters. We have to deliver results.

“On a good day, everybody can win football games, on an average day not a lot of teams can win football games, and on bad days only a few can win football games. Today was not a bad day but it was a difficult day for us.

“It was just a difficult day because we have to say that Brighton is doing really well.”

Provided by Press Association Sport