Liverpool trail Nottingham Forest 1-0 at half-time at Anfield, and once again there are plenty of questions for Andoni Iraola to answer.
Forest have been the better side for much of the opening 45 minutes and deservedly go into the break ahead after Dan Ndoye put the visitors in front.
Liverpool have struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, while Forest have looked dangerous whenever they have attacked.
And it could have been even worse.
Wirtz Liverpool’s biggest threat
The biggest positive for Liverpool has been Florian Wirtz.
The German has looked the most likely player to make something happen for the Reds and briefly thought he had equalised, only for his effort to be ruled out.
Wirtz has been lively and has shown flashes of exactly what Liverpool bought him for.
But he needs more players around him to help create opportunities.
At the moment, too much is going through Wirtz.
Isak has barely been involved
Once again, Alexander Isak has been starved of service.
That’s becoming a concern.
Liverpool have one of the most expensive strikers in world football, yet Isak has barely been involved in the game.
He needs crosses.
He needs through balls.
He needs Liverpool to get runners around him.
Instead, Forest have managed to restrict the striker and Liverpool haven’t found a consistent way of getting him into dangerous positions.
Iraola has to change that in the second half.
Forest have created the better chances
Perhaps the biggest concern is that Forest haven’t simply sat back and defended their lead.
They’ve actually created some very good opportunities.
Liverpool have had plenty of possession but Forest have looked far more dangerous when they have won the ball and attacked quickly.
That will concern Iraola.
Liverpool’s defensive structure hasn’t looked particularly convincing and there have been too many moments where Forest have been able to exploit space.
Alisson saves Liverpool from going two down
And Liverpool could easily have gone into the break 2-0 down.
Just before half-time, Alisson produced an outstanding save to deny Forest and keep Liverpool within touching distance.
It was a huge moment.
Had Forest scored there, Liverpool would have faced an enormous challenge in the second half.
Instead, Alisson has given his teammates a lifeline.
Liverpool need a completely different second half
The good news?
It’s only 1-0.
Liverpool have 45 minutes to turn this around.
But something has to change.
They need to move the ball quicker.
They need to get Isak involved.
They need more players making runs beyond the Forest defence.
And they need to be much more careful when Forest break forward.
Wirtz has shown that there is an opportunity there.
Liverpool just need to start giving him more help.
My half-time verdict
This hasn’t been good enough from Liverpool.
Forest have been more dangerous, they’ve created the better chances and they’ve done an excellent job of restricting Liverpool’s attacking players.
But one goal changes everything.
Liverpool have the players to turn this around.
Now Iraola needs to find the answers.
Because if Liverpool continue like this for another 45 minutes, their first home game of the season could end in a very disappointing defeat.
Come on, Reds.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
This will be another defeat to be sure.