Even Jurgen Klopp might privately admit what Liverpool supporters are quietly thinking

If it is too bold to suggest that victory from a poor performance is the hallmark of title winners, is it fair to say it is one of a team who can at least now be considered real challengers for it?

For the second game running Liverpool were nowhere near their fluent best but back-to-back wins at the start of a punishing nine-game sequence will only embolden those with the most lofty of aspirations for this intriguing campaign.

Jurgen Klopp had challenged his team to become more unpredictable in his Tuesday press conference, suggesting the goals cannot always come from the source of his five-man frontline department. And with none of them having registered now since before the international break, the rest of the squad have shouldered that burden admirably with seven scored.

Jurgen Klopp shares devastating Joel Matip Liverpool injury update

Liverpool player ratings as Virgil van Dijk and two others excellent in Sheffield United win

After sumptuous goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo against Fulham, this time it was Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai who stepped up to secure a hard-fought 2-0 that made a mockery of Sheffield United's position at the foot of the table.

The win means Klopp's men have ended a four-game winless run away at teams who have been newly promoted, dating back to the start of last season in matches at Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and most recently Luton Town. Adding to what was the worst run of its kind for 50 years was unthinkable given how desperately poor the Blades have been this term.

And while it was a match that was fraught with banana skins following the appointment of Chris Wilder at the top of the week, Liverpool eventually overcame a