Wednesday's humiliation in Naples confirmed what many have suspected since the start of the season - things have gone dramatically wrong at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds have endured a stuttering start to the new season and they are simply not the relentless team they were just a few months ago. Indeed, the 4-1 defeat in their Champions League opener summed up their recent struggles.
However, it's not just in Europe where they have struggled though, with the Anfield giants already six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with six games player. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at precisely what is broken - and how Klopp can fix things .
1. The famous intensity has vanished
Astonishingly, Liverpool have been out run in every single match this season… and one of those by an incredible 7km. They are behind every opponent on distance covered, high intensity runs and sprints. For Klopp teams, that is anathema, as explosiveness across the pitch underpins his tactics. Is it a poor pre-season, new training methods, complacency or a mental thing? In no uncertain terms, the intensity has to return, and fast.
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2. Big players are not performing
Mo Salah has looked a shadow of himself since he returned from AFCON. Virgil van Dijk no longer looks invincible. Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold seem less energetic, Fabinho too. The list goes on. The question is, why? A hangover from last season? An ageing team? Big decisions need to be made, some egos perhaps need bruising, with high profile rotation. Strong management is required.
3. Injuries have laid the squad bare
There was a case to be made that Liverpool had the Premier League’s strongest squad last season. No longer. 11 players have departed, through sales and loans, five were high profile. Only four were signed, one on loan. 12 injuries already this season - SIX of them hamstring injuries - suggests all is not well, either with training plans or treatment. Club doctor Jim Moxon left on the eve of the season. Klopp needs fresh legs - and that means sorting out the issues sharpish.
4. Goals are a problem
That may seem strange after nine against Bournemouth, but the fact is, they are not clinical enough. Salah has scored only three in eight games, Nunez two in five…and a woeful conversion rate of just 13 per cent. Roberto Firmino has the best conversion rate of all the strikers (27 per cent), which tells a story, as he has never been known for his finishing. Jota’s return may help, but creative decisions may be required, as they try to fill the gap left by Sadio Mane’s departure.
5. The press has vanished
The midfield positions seem wider, too wide, with Fabinho isolated and a high defence exposed. Klopp himself said he can’t play a high line without pressure, and he admitted against Napoli there wasn’t a single counter-pressing situation until Thiago came on. When he also said his team “must reinvent themselves, (because) the basics were not there”, he actually means go back to what they do best: counter-pressing with intelligence and intensity. Mane is a big miss in this regard and he needs to find someone else to trigger the press.
