Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool discover the magic one per cent between success and failure

Liverpool have won their first four matches in the Premier League for the first time ever – and first time in the top division since 1990.

They have a perfect record of 12 points, scored nine goals and conceded just one – it would be zero if not for some Alisson hijinks that led to the Reds conceding their first goal of the season at Leicester.

But drill down and what are the differences between the up-and-down Liverpool of 2017/18 and the current crop that look like (at this early stage) title contenders.

New signings? Yes, but not as much as you might think.

From the team that started against City in round four last year to the team that took the field against Leicester this season there are five personnel changes, but only one of those came in during the most recent transfer window – goalkeeper Alisson.

The other changes were Andrew Robertson for Alberto Moreno (who was an unused sub), Joe Gomez for Ragnar Klavan (now at Cagliari), Virgil van Dijk for Joel Matip (who was a late sub) and James Milner for Emre Can (now at Juventus).

The front five was exactly the same – Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson (preferred over Naby Keita) and Gini Wijnaldum.

The subs against the Citizens were Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (injured), Dominic Solanke (not in the 18) and Milner.

Against Leicester they were Keita, another new signing Xherdan Shaqiri and Matip.

So yes there is difference in personnel but only Alisson and Keita have featured regularly so far this term of the summer signings. Shaqiri made his first appearance against Leicester and Fabinho is yet to be included in a matchday squad.

So it is not just the new signings at Anfield that are making the difference.

At the start of Klopp’s third full season it seems his side are further adapting to his style of play and the German is clearly more tactically astute, adapting to the English game.

In terms of key indicators there are two marked differences from season 2017/18 to 2018/19 – possession and passing accuracy.

Liverpool’s possession in 2017/18 was just 52.32 per cent after four games, while in 2018/19 it is an impressive 61.65 – this after Leicester edged the possession stakes 51.2 to 48.8 per cent.

But the reason for this is not better defending or more pressure in midfield – there are only slightly more tackles (81-78) and interceptions are way down (37-47).

The reason is more accurate passing, improving from a wayward 79.25 per cent last season to a precise 86.25 this term.

Part of the reason for this might be better running off the ball, to get into space for the pass, but an additional factor is the players’ greater understanding of what Klopp wants to achieve.

Alisson also makes a big difference here.

At this point he has only made two more saves than Simon Mignolet/Loris Karius last term but his distribution is markedly better – 85.25 per cent pass accuracy for the Brazilian while Migonlet and Karius had a pass accuracy of just 62.5 per cent.

The boost in confidence, and more accurate distribution, that Alisson has provided has clearly made a big difference to Liverpool defensively – even with the slight jolt the former Roma man gave during the Leicester match when he dallied in the box, allowing Kelechi Iheanacho to steal the ball leading to Rachid Ghezzal’s goal.

Klopp must also personally take some credit for the turnaround, and not just for his work in the transfer market.

He is far more settled tactically this season and knows exactly what he wants, and the players and combinations best placed to deliver that.

This is confirmed by the fact that this year he has made just one change to his starting XI in the first four weeks – Henderson starting instead of Keita at the King Power Stadium.

By this point last year he had made 13.

His substitutions have also improved. Last year they were often too late in matches and seemed to have little effect.

This season they have come on earlier and to greater results. A perfect example of this was him opting for Shaqiri rather than the usual Daniel Sturridge option off the bench against Leicester.

By bringing on the Swiss attacker and pushing him down the right wing it forced the dangerous Ben Chilwell to stay back for Leicester, nullifying their threat on that flank, and also permitting Trent Alexander-Arnold to bomb forward.

This meant Leicester were far less of a threat in the final 10 minutes and allowed Liverpool to hold on for the win.

It’s often said that the difference between a good and a great team is just one per cent.

It’s early days in the season with just over one tenth of matches played, but for now Klopp and his Reds seem to have found that one per cent.

How far that will take them we will have to wait and see.