sport news How Jurgen Klopp can restore Liverpool's confidence in Rangers Champions League ... trends now
It's fair to say Liverpool haven't looked their usual selves so far this season.
With Manchester City looking in ominously ruthless form and the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham refreshed and revitalised, Jurgen Klopp's team are in real danger of being left behind.
Saturday's helter-skelter 3-3 draw with Brighton - the fifth time they have dropped points in seven Premier League games so far - sees them languishing down in ninth place.
Liverpool's players look dejected after conceding during Saturday's 3-3 draw against Brighton
Manager Jurgen Klopp is well aware of Liverpool's issues in several parts of the pitch
There have been alarm bells in the Champions League as well. That 4-1 hammering in Napoli at the beginning of the group phase suggesting defensive deficiencies we always knew were there are now becoming a chronic problem.
The Reds recovered from that with a 2-1 home win over Ajax but the upcoming double header with Rangers - at Anfield on Tuesday night and Ibrox next Wednesday - will give us plenty of clues over whether last season's finalists can compete in Europe this time around.
While Rangers have endured a baptism of fire on their Champions League return, shipping seven goals against Ajax and Napoli in their first two group games, they will come to Merseyside knowing there are weaknesses to exploit.
No doubt Klopp will have been agonising over how to put things right for several weeks now, but here are a few changes that could help them avoid further damage against Rangers.
Liverpool recovered to beat Ajax 2-1 on matchday two after the shambolic display at Napoli
Switch of formation
Klopp is considering a change of system for Tuesday night's game, which is as clear an indication as you'll get of his concern.
It's always been a 4-3-3 for him, a shape that has facilitated the potency of his forward line and the intense pressing game he demands.
Given the ease with which Brighton - and many others of late - have exposed Liverpool at the back, he might consider playing three centre-halves, four in midfield and three in attack.
Klopp may consider a change of formation from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 for the game with Rangers
That would allow the much-maligned Trent Alexander-Arnold to concentrate more on his attacking duties than defending.
However, adjusting to such a formation takes work on the training ground and such a drastic switch could only add to the damage with players not fully understanding their roles.
A more minor alteration to a 4-2-3-1 would allow the addition of another attacking player, with Darwin Nunez leading the forward line with Diogo Jota behind him and Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on the wings.
The goals will come for Nunez
While Erling Haaland bangs in the goals for City, Liverpool's own big money striker has endured a rather frustrating start to life in England.
Darwin Nunez, complete with his £85million price tag, made a blistering start with goals against City in the Community Shield and then Fulham in the season opener.
But the Uruguayan's brainless headbutt on Joachim Andersen in the draw with Crystal Palace set him back. Not only in terms of the three-game suspension but in terms of Klopp's trust.
Darwin Nunez sat down with Klopp over the weekend to discuss his performances so far
