Quiz any manager, Premier League or beyond, and they will almost all agree one of the more difficult aspects of their job is when the time comes to draw a line under one tactical approach and begin work on another.
New players are brought in to fit the fresh formation. Existing players need to learn new roles. Others require subtle changes to their usual job. And different patterns of play must be drummed into muscle memory.
Not entirely impossible, but rarely does such a transformation instantly click into gear. Particularly when the decision for a new look comes after the start of the season, with many of the players likely to prosper from such a switch unavailable.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp fumes at Joe Gomez as Liverpool boss patience tested at Nottingham Forest
That, though, is the situation in which Jurgen Klopp now finds himself as he continues to grapple with Liverpool's ongoing disappointing Premier League campaign.
It was always going to be the case of the Reds having to continue evolving this season, particularly in attack given the big money arrival of Darwin Nunez and the different attributes he brings compared to the departed Sadio Mane.
A recent run of five wins in seven games - culminating in hard-earned back-to-back wins over Manchester City and West Ham United - had suggested a corner had been turned, aided by a move away from Klopp's long-established 4-3-3 approach which has helped Nunez fire.. Whether 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, the change has been evident, Liverpool more resolute in defence while still a threat going forward. It has been working.
Then came Saturday and the loss at rock-bottom Nottingham Forest, Liverpool's worst result of the campaign to date if not their most dire performance, an unenviable accolade still owned by the showing on the opening day at Fulham.
Strangely, the most heartening aspect of the City Ground setback defeat came from Klopp not being entirely surprised by it. That may sound alarming to some supporters, but that the Reds boss knew exactly what had gone wrong means, at least in theory, some of the matters can be addressed.
"We have never ever played before in this formation with the most difficult thing in football is to play against a deep defending side," he said. "It was obviously clear we were lacking up front runs in behind and vision in the centre. That’s all true.
“We couldn’t come here and expect to create 20 chances against Nottingham the way they defended I don’t think it’s possible. We didn’t create that much, I’m not concerned about that because I wasn’t surprised by it. These things can happen."
Indeed, Liverpool had sufficient chances from set-pieces to claim at least a draw. But it perhaps shouldn't been a shock they struggled to unlock the Forest defence from open play given the personnel absent. Even having just one of late withdrawal Thiago Alcantara, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota or Nunez would have made a significant difference.
But that injury list - and the recurrence of some issues - is starting to prompt questions regarding Liverpool's medical team and their possible influence over team selection. The long-term injured aside, certain players are clearly being limited in terms of minutes - the Reds, like every club, keep a close eye on individual playing time - but Jota's injury deep into additional time against City underlines such an approach is not a perfect science, the demands of each game ultimately forcing the hand of the manager.
And players who are ostensibly available may not be anywhere near 100%, as Klopp hinted on Saturday. "It affects everything," he said of the absences. "But the line-up we could use was absolutely fine. It's just we are not used to it.
"We have to be careful with Hendo, we couldn't use Thiago, we couldn't use Darwin. It was clear we would not fly through this game, easily clicking, bam bam bam."
Liverpool continue to be caught in an imperfect storm where a succession of not insurmountable problems have combined to give Klopp his biggest challenge since the dismal winter of the 2020/21 pandemic campaign. He found an answer then, and is determined to find one now. Those fans long critical of the summer transfer business may take perverse satisfaction over the current travails, but that is of little use right now. The window doesn't open again until January.
"I know when things don’t go well, I just don’t have this one solution where I say, ‘Okay, the manager is the wrong one’," he said. "If I would feel that I’d be the first arm up and say ‘ladies and gentlemen that is it for me here’.
"But as long as that is not the case, my job is to find solutions and not hide away in different situations."
Certainly, Klopp won't be hiding as he continues to fathom just how to get his injury-hit team consistently firing once again. Liverpool are having to learn again - and Ajax on Wednesday, where Champions League knockout stage qualification can be assured - represents an ideal opportunity to show their change is for the better.
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