Liverpool certainly weren't at their free-flowing best away at Turf Moor on Sunday, but the Reds still remain at the top of the Premier League pile after a slim 1-0 win against Burnley.
In typical Mohamed Salah fashion, the much-loved Egyptian would end up being the difference-maker with a last-gasp penalty kick, with Scott Parker's Clarets nearly hanging on for a 0-0 draw, which would have been a very impressive feat, as they played the last few minutes of the tense clash with just ten men.
Mohamed-Salah
However, it wasn't to be for the relegation-threatened hosts, as Liverpool - once again - found a way to win, even as various hurdles tried to stop them in their tracks.
Indeed, there were several worrying underperformers lining up in the distinctive green strip in Lancashire, with the likes of Milos Kerkez now concerned for his starting spot in the Champions League this mid-week.
Liverpool's biggest underperformers against Burnley
It would feel strange not to start with Kerkez's poor showing when judging the whole host of underperformers on the day, considering the former AFC Bournemouth defender would fall victim to Arne Slot's wrath after just 38 minutes.
Indeed, after receiving an early yellow card for diving, the 21-year-old full-back found himself on shaky ground, winning zero duels before the Dutchman put him out of his misery.
Away from Kerkez's early substitution dominating most of the conversation, Hugo Ekitike also struggled against a well-drilled Clarets defence, with the Frenchman frustratingly unable to add to his two-goal Premier League tally when reduced to just two efforts on the Burnley goal.
Moreover, Cody Gakpo also faded in and out of the contest, with the usually tricky winger only managing to register two accurate crosses all match long, away from also failing to test Martin Dubravka, as all five of his efforts weren't on-target.
Liverpool
But, there is one attacker yet to be mentioned who could already be in grave danger of becoming Liverpool's next Darwin Nunez, as more millions are potentially wasted.
5/10 Liverpool star could be Slot's next Nunez
While Ekitike might not have scored against the gritty hosts on Sunday, he has at least hit the ground running away from this attritional showdown, with two goals next to his name already from just four league clashes.
Unfortunately, when Darwin Nunez arrived in Merseyside back in 2022 for a whopping £64m, he couldn't get to that tally in the same swift manner, with a goal on his Premier League debut against Fulham then being followed up by a barren run of form, leading to the Uruguayan bowing out from his first season at the club with a disappointing nine league strikes next to his name.
darwin-nunez-liverpool
Thankfully, Nunez is no longer a concern for Liverpool fans to wrestle with, after he secured a summer move to the Middle East with Al-Hilal.
But, Slot could depressingly have his second iteration of the South American now in Florian Wirtz, with the £116m purchase letting his weighty price-tag get the better of him already so early into his playing days at Anfield.
Wirtz's PL numbers for Liverpool
Stat
Minutes played
Goals scored
Assists
Touches
Accurate passes
Key passes
Big chances created
Stats by Sofascore
From 338 minutes of Premier League action to date, Wirtz is yet to break his duck for the Reds in terms of goals or assists, which is an unusual predicament for the German to find himself in.
After all, last season in Bundesliga action alone, the vibrant 22-year-old managed to collect an astounding 22 goals and assists from just 31 matches. His blistering form at the BayArena would even see him branded as "world-class" by journalist Zach Lowy.
Florian-Wirtz
Yet, against the Clarets, Wirtz also looked a shadow of his Leverkusen self, with zero shots on target registered and zero successful dribbles mustered up, away from also giving up the ball 21 times.
This will be really concerning to see for all those associated with Liverpool, as Nunez stung them in the same manner, having entered the English game off the back of a ridiculous 34-goal season at Benfica, to only then flounder under the weight of all his expectations.
Florian-Wirtz-1
His shoddy showing at Turf Moor would see Liverpool World's Will Rooney hand out a sub-par 5/10 rating to him post-match, having stated that he just couldn't impact proceedings in the manner he would've liked.
Not all hope will be lost so early on, but Wirtz will need to buck up his ideas fast, so as not to be considered as another expensive misfire down the line.