As Harry Maguire headed in that winner for Manchester United, a thought crossed my mind for possibly for the first ever time - maybe the international break wasn’t so bad.
After the joy of lifting title number 20 last season, and even basking in the glory of a perfect start just a matter of weeks ago, watching Liverpool at the moment feels like some form of punishment. There is so little resembling the side that cruised to the Premier League crown right now, and it’s hard to know where to direct your ire.
A number of players look a complete shadow of themselves, the new signings that were lauded after a record-breaking summer look completely lost, and yes, even Arne Slot should not escape criticism at the moment.
Having developed a sort of hybrid between his own style and Jurgen Klopp’s last season, it’s hard to know what on earth Liverpool is supposed to be now. Where last season, moments of chaos were limited, now it just seems to have become the norm.
Conceding late on after drawing level at Crystal Palace is an off-day. Doing it again a week later at Chelsea is poor. Repeating that at home to one of the poorest Manchester United teams in living memory is approaching unforgivable.
Quite why Slot thought that same team that started so badly at Stamford Bridge deserved another run-out on Sunday is beyond me, and no doubt a lot of Liverpool fans. Surely now, he must realize that changes need to be made - and if that means upsetting some of the bigger names in his side, then so be it.
Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Alexis Mac Allister on the bench for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Alexis Mac Allister need to make way from Liverpool's side (Image: Getty Images)
We all know of course that Mohamed Salah hasn’t reacted too well to being dropped in the past. Right now though, the Egyptian is not doing nearly enough to warrant being an automatic pick all of the time.
Federico Chiesa, on the other hand, isn’t just banging on the door to get into Slot’s side, he’s practically climbing in through the window just to get his opportunity.
Yet again on Sunday, the Italian made a difference off the bench as he set Cody Gakpo up for his equalizer. That’s two goals and three assists in just 171 minutes of action this season - not even enough to constitute two full games.
Whatever Slot’s reasons have been for not giving Chiesa a chance in the past, they need to be dismissed now. There’s practically no one more deserving of a start in his squad right now.
Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa in training
Federico Chiesa should finally be given his chance for Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
Elsewhere, Alexander Isak’s slow start was to be expected, but that can't justify giving him an extended run in the side right now - nor can his hefty price tag - when Hugo Ekitike has been by far the standout new arrival so far.
The Frenchman must start against his old side Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, and so should Andy Robertson. Milos Kerkez desperately needs to be taken out of the firing line at left-back, having failed to bring the sort of form he showed at Bournemouth so far.
Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley could also do with coming out of the side. Reports of the former playing himself back into form during the international break may have been greatly exaggerated - let's face it, he was only playing against Puerto Rico - and the latter continues to struggle as he tries to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
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The jury is still out on Florian Wirtz at the moment, but his performances off the bench against Chelsea and United just about warrant a return to the starting line-up, and hopefully coming up against some familiar opposition on Wednesday might help kick-start his Liverpool career.
Right-back is a more difficult conundrum. Jeremie Frimpong would be the obvious solution, although he hasn't exactly been any more convincing than Bradley, so Dominik Szoboszlai could end up coming into the equation again, with Curtis Jones earning a spot in midfield.
Whoever gets the nod, Liverpool can't fall back on reputations or price tags anymore. Slot simply has to make changes to his side at this point - a five-match losing streak doesn't bear thinking about.