LEWIS STEELE: ‘Liverpool Reloaded’ are having the identical teething issues Jurgen Klopp skilled at first of his tenure… the new-look Reds should be taught rapidly if they’re to justify reward

They are saying the second album is probably the most troublesome for a musician to make, and film sequels not often reside as much as the fanfare of the unique. ‘Liverpool Reloaded’, as Jurgen Klopp calls his staff, is maybe having the identical downside in reproducing the mastery of his first blockbuster facet.

In falling to a dismal draw at Luton and defeat in Toulouse, Klopp slammed his staff for poor defending and an absence of aggression, saying that his new-look squad should be taught rapidly from their errors if they’re to justify the reward many have given them to date this season.

After all, these two sub-par outcomes are only a minor bump within the highway for Liverpool, who’re nonetheless competing on 4 fronts. A win in opposition to Austrian facet LASK Linz at Anfield in a fortnight will see them safely advance within the Europa League, whereas they’re within the Carabao Cup final eight.

However apart from a few unhealthy outcomes, the extra worrying factor for Klopp is the extent of performances. ‘We can not have what occurred in Toulouse,’ he stated after their 3-2 defeat. ‘We weren’t aggressive sufficient. We actually must defend higher.

‘I need us to be taught from this. We are able to lose a sport. However we have now to make use of it to be taught the appropriate issues. I want we might be taught rapidly. Usually we’re in a constructive state of affairs and it is very important be taught to cope with that.

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‘There was a whole lot of reward and feedback, I’m proud of that, however in these moments it’s important to be there. Luton is an actual studying curve, and never simply because we’re away (from Anfield). It’s a part of the training course of but it surely doesn’t really feel nice.’

Klopp made 9 adjustments for the journey to France and the evening highlighted an absence of reducing depth in his second-string XI. Kostas Tsimikas was at fault for Toulouse’s first aim, although it might be unfair to single out the Greek for criticism. Not one Liverpool participant reached their greatest degree.

That features the 5 substitutes that got here on – Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota – as Toulouse’s game-plan completely exploited the Reds’ weaknesses. They have been sloppy in possession and ran out of concepts in attacking conditions.

By means of Klopp’s feedback a couple of lack of aggression, he appears irked about midfield woes. ‘Let’s speak about six, child,’ he famously stated when Liverpool gained their sixth European Cup, and it looks like we’re there once more. Now, although, we’re speaking concerning the lack of a No 6.

Changing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho was a summer-long saga that culminated in them signing Japan captain Wataru Endo after lacking out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Endo has barely performed within the league, with Alexis Mac Allister working in holding midfield.

Once you look again at each staff that has gained the Premier League, a continuing theme is a battling, deep-lying midfielder, from Claude Makelele to N’Golo Kante, Rodri to Fabinho at Liverpool. Can Klopp win one other title with Mac Allister or Endo holding up the midfield?

Each are supremely gifted footballers however the Argentine World Cup winner just isn’t a defensive midfielder by commerce and Endo has not but reached the elite degree Liverpool require. Endo will play on Sunday with Mac Allister banned, plus accidents to Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones.

However all these points are simply minor negatives in what has been an incredible begin to the season for Liverpool. They’re simply three factors behind leaders Manchester Metropolis going into the weekend, wherein they play Brentford on Sunday.

It looks like there are clear issues to resolve however they don’t seem to be insurmountable and, when they’re fastened, ‘Liverpool Reloaded’ might be simply pretty much as good as Klopp’s authentic all-conquering facet. As he added: ‘We could be a actually good staff, we have now proven what we will be. However I need it now.’