Klopp content to sacrifice style as Reds extend lead

BRIGHTON, England - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed his title-chasing team's maturity after breaking down an obdurate Brighton for a 1-0 win on Saturday.

Klopp's Reds had lost their last two games in contrasting fashion - Manchester City inflicted Liverpool's only Premier League defeat of the campaign on Jan 4 before a much-changed XI lost to Wolves in the FA Cup three days later.

Liverpool was far from its fluent best on England's south coast, but Mo Salah's 50th-minute penalty earned a vital win that moved the Reds seven points clear of City, which was due to host Wolves on Monday night.