Sign up to FREE email alerts from Liverpool.com - The best LFC opinion Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The overwhelming feeling following Liverpool's 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion was one of enormous relief, such was the precarious nature of the unsettling final period clinging on with 10 men after Alisson's 76th minute dismissal.

It never ought to have reached that stage, though, and while Liverpool scored twice here in the first 25 minutes through Virgil van Dijk to take a commanding early lead, it was yet another example of not putting a game to bed and making life more difficult than it ever needed to be.

It's a pattern which has been consistent throughout the season so far, and while it seems ludicrous to criticise a side which sits top of the Premier League with 13 wins and a draw from the first 14 games, it does feel as though many of them have been a little too close to comfort.

Three points are ultimately what matters, of course, but the tightrope Liverpool are walking is a potentially dangerous one, and they must ensure they keep their balance.

(Image: Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

When Van Dijk bagged his second goal of the game, it was noticable how Liverpool never went full throttle to score the third goal at any stage, and instead cruised fairly comfortably through the rest of the contest up until Alisson's sending off, content to allow Brighton sustained spells of possession.

It was a similar case against Crystal Palace last time out, whereby Liverpool never truly turned the screw after they'd opened the scoring, easing off the intensity before Wilfried Zaha scored the equaliser.

Likewise, when scoring first against Leicester City at Anfield, Liverpool never really put their foot on the throat and looked to further their advantage, before James Maddison drew the Foxes level.

On all these occasions, Liverpool came out the other side with three points by one-goal margins, and the nature of the games in recent weeks has made a phenomenal start to the campaign feel strangely fragile and precarious.

Significantly, Liverpool did make a concerted effort to extend their lead against Manchester City after scoring first, likely because they knew the quality of the opponent necessitated that, whereas in recent games, there has perhaps been a sense of feeling a little too comfortable once going in front.

Whereas in the past, Liverpool routinely scored fours, fives and sixes under Jürgen Klopp, particularly at Anfield, there has only been one four-goal haul so far this season, coming on the opening day against Norwich City.

And there's every chance it's a conscious strategy to conserve energy and play within themselves to a certain degree, as exemplified by Klopp's decision to take off Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino early against Brighton with one eye on next week's Merseyside derby.

There is obvious logic to that approach, and Liverpool are clearly a more mature and well-rounded side now, capable of grinding out these narrow wins time and time again.

It's a delicate balancing act, though, as they never quite seem to be shutting the door and removing all hope from opponents right now.

They must ensure they don't fall off that particular tight rope any time soon.