Jurgen Klopp knows more about winning trophies and building successful teams than all the other Premier League managers put together – bar Pep Guardiola.
And I am not going to jump on any bandwagons saying Liverpool are in crisis after dropping seven points in their first three games of the season. But I was surprised at how lethargic, how passive, how defensive they were in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
I was surprised by their lack of urgency at Fulham on the opening day. And I have been surprised by Virgil van Dijk's uncertain start to the season. Form is temporary but class is permanent, so let's remind ourselves that was Liverpool's first league defeat in 2022.
There are still only two Premier League teams capable of going on a 20-match unbeaten run or winning 10 games in a row – Liverpool and Manchester City. But on the back of that performance on Monday night, when United were there for the taking, I have to ask: What has happened to Klopp's heavy metal football?
Where is that ruthless streak, that insatiable desire to win the ball back high up the pitch, the relentless press which leaves opponents camped in their own half? As much as I want to see Liverpool involved at the sharp end of another title race, they can't afford to give City a five-point start.
As much as Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are exciting signings who will prove good value in the long run, I fear Liverpool are missing Sadio Mane – his goals, his movement, his ability to stretch opposition defences.
Do you agree with Robbie Savage's assessment? Comment here
And as much as Liverpool have got their recruitment spot-on under Klopp, time after time, they are bound to miss sporting director Michael Edwards, who left Anfield at the end of last season. Edwards forged a reputation as an expert negotiator and a clinical 'finisher' of deals. His legacy runs through the spine of the team, from goalkeeper Alisson to Van Dijk, Fabinho and Mo Salah.
But no team can live off its past success, and so far this season Liverpool have looked a bit jaded. Maybe the batteries did not fully recharge over the summer after they played in every single game of every competition they entered last season: 38 Premier League fixtures, six Carabao Cup ties, six FA Cup ties and 13 Champions League dates.
Many of them were fulfilling international obligations with their countries into the back end of June – a ludicrous workload – and they don't look fresh. The loss of Mane has been impacted even more by Diogo Jota's injury. At the back, Van Dijk has already had three different partners in central defence, which may partly explain his uncertainty.
But Andy Robertson is being replaced from the bench by Konstantinos Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold's defending in one-on-one situations looks suspect and all three opponents so far – Fulham, Crystal Palace and United – have had too much joy against Liverpool's defensive high line. They are all worrying signs which need to be addressed. Has that high line been rumbled?
Although Klopp insists they have all bases covered in midfield, Liverpool looked short of X-factor in that department until Fabio Carvalho came on and made an impact as sub at Old Trafford. And although United were reeling from shocking back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Brentford, I never thought they were going to give up their two-goal lead.
With Thiago injured and Fabinho on the bench, Liverpool looked short of a killer pass and a creative force who could break Unied's lines. There has been talk over the summer of Jude Bellingham moving to Anfield.
I don't think it can happen in this window, but unless Liverpool break the shackles of their early-season lethargy he can't come to Merseyside soon enough. This could prove to be a season where Liverpool are in transition – just months after they missed out on a Quadruple by a whisker. But in the short term, teams in transition get left behind.
