In truth, all this dysfunctioning is becoming a bit of an embarrassment. Just when Jurgen Klopp thinks his Liverpool side is all revved up again and ready for action, it keeps failing to rise to the occasion.
Don’t think it’s not playing on his mind either. One look at the German’s unusually pained expressions yesterday told a story of a man who has suffered one flop too many.
But he’s not exactly the panicking type. On the contrary, Klopp took a very philosophical view on it yesterday as he prepared for another big date under the lights against Rangers. “If it can happen to Messi and Ronaldo then it can happen to anyone!”, was how he explained it when asked why his players have suddenly started losing it when under pressure to perform.
It’s a confidence crisis which could have seen coming, never mind Klopp himself. And it’s left his all-star side blushing uncomfortably in ninth place in the English top flight - and facing a fight just to make it out of Group A and into the knock-out stages of their favourite competition after an opening night pounding in Napoli.