Liverpool have played a total of 42 matches in all competitions this season, losing just twice.
This weekend, the Reds are scheduled to face one of the select few outfits to inflict defeat upon them in West Ham United, who will make the trip to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers beat Jurgen Klopp's men by three goals to two in November. It was a chaotic match and one that captured Liverpool's struggles to control matches without Thiago Alcantara on the field.
Klopp decided on a midfield of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the day, with Thiago only able to play the final 20 minutes after recovering from a recent calf injury.
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Virgil van Dijk described his team's performance as 'rash' at the time, and Jurgen Klopp stated: "We lost patience. You could see that we were not that calm in the decisive moments."
Liverpool have encountered issues on a number of occasions without Thiago this season. The problems faced against West Ham have surfaced several times without him on the pitch.
The 30-year-old didn't feature when the Reds allowed Brentford to scored three past them in September, and he wasn't available when Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton scored two goals each against them, either.
In fact, 13 of the 20 goals that Liverpool have conceded in the Premier League this season have been scored without Thiago in the squad.
With a rematch against West Ham on the horizon, it seems Thiago will be unavailable once more, having picked up a tight hamstring just minutes before the Carabao Cup final.
Klopp has reassured supporters that Thiago's injury is far from serious, but he's likely to miss the upcoming bout against the Irons and that isn't good news.
To ensure defeat doesn't happen once again, Liverpool will have to find a way of remaining in control without their metronome in the middle of the park.
It remains to be seen who will play in his absence from Harvey Elliott to Naby Keita to Curtis Jones and beyond, but regardless, Klopp must find a way of establishing control without his conductor.
