If it ain't broke don't fix it, goes the saying. Unfortunately, whatever 'it' is malfunctioned badly at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Liverpool's epic 7-0 triumph against Manchester United just over a week ago made selecting a team to start against the Cherries a fairly easy process, you would think? Just the one change from Jurgen Klopp, bringing in Stefan Bajcetic for Jordan Henderson, with no risks taken over the captain's slight cold.
Unfortunately, the Reds' dismal showing and subsequent defeat means that it's back to the drawing board this week as the German manager tries to come up with a side that can not only score at least three times against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, but also keep things tight at the other end of the pitch.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher sends blunt six-word message to Liverpool players after Bournemouth defeat
Liverpool's back four took some stick for the slack goal they conceded against Gary O'Neil's relegation battlers at the Vitality Stadium, but Los Blancos hammerings aside, it was the first time that the backline had been breached since February 4. With that in mind, making any alterations to the defensive line for Wednesday seems largely pointless.
Liverpool have struggled to build central defensive partnerships all season thanks to a sequence of injuries, but if Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate can get a decent run together, hopefully they will provide the stability that the Reds so desperately need.
In midfield however, there is a decision to make. In such a game, should Klopp reinstate his captain to keep the engine room ticking over? The answer is surely yes, but that would be my only alteration. Stefan Bajcetic has made a big impact since breaking into the first team this season, but there is no more streetwise an opponent that Real Madrid and in the middle of the park experience will count for everything.
Liverpool could opt for greater legs in the mid-section of the pitch by bringing out Fabinho and pairing the youth of Bajcetitc and Harvey Elliott with Henderson, but that feels like a twist too far as Klopp looks to get the balance right between chasing goals and leaving his team vulnerable.
Up top is a mystery wrapped in a puzzle. Just what is Liverpool's strongest front line right now? Mohamed Salah is certain to start on the right but there are places up for grabs elsewhere. Diogo Jota is yet to score since his return from injury but could play either of two other positions on offer, and was the only player to truly test Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto in the second half on Saturday. Roberto Firmino knows what it takes to play against Real Madrid on the grandest of stages.
But if the Reds are to pull off one of the most unlikely of comebacks in the history of the Champions League (and they've got plenty of pedigree for it) they will need a performance more 'on brand' with the one dished out against Manchester United rather than Bournemouth.
Klopp must decide if he should stick with the front three of Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez that started both matches, or twist with Firmino or Jota or perhaps even both? Second-guessing a Liverpool side is an art in itself these days, but with greater game time under their belts one suspects that the Reds' boss will keep faith with his most recent starting trio and see where it takes him.
That could be into extra time and should it get that far, you can expect to see an appearance from all five at some point.
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