LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 13, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp reacts during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL kicked off their Champions League campaign in front of an expectant Anfield, but much as the competition might have changed, the problems remained the same.

The manager needs to wear this one, irresistible when on top, incapable when under the cosh, how many times are Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp going to implode before it becomes an issue that needs addressing?

Liverpool spent the entire summer intending on spending a world-record fee for a defender and ended the window without making so much as a bid for anyone, and given how the season has gone so far that can only be seen as a dereliction of duty.

The Reds have no equal when they’re in control, but when the capacity to blow teams away is a necessity and not luxury you’ve no chance of any realistic hope of winning trophies.

Liverpool find themselves seven games in to the season with 13 goals in the against column and have no excuses or mitigating circumstances to fall back on.

How can it not be a reflection on the manager when our first-choice defence includes two goalkeepers that the manager doesn’t trust, a left back that couldn’t buy a game last year, two right backs that don’t have a dozen first games between them, a centre half that instils panic every time he’s on the teamsheet and very little else backing them up.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 13, 2017: Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius looks dejected as Sevilla score a second equalising goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

I get that the manager desires top players, that he wants the very best, but for fuck’s sake.

Name five better defenders in Europe? I could name five in the Kirkby league who’d look more assured.

That Alberto Moreno looks one of the more assured members of our defence tonight isn’t a compliment.

And what of the midfield? It’s all’s very good looking elegant when the going is good, but when we’ve got a slight incline we have no gears to shift in to.

Once Sevilla drew level in the second half they looked far more the likely to take the three points, we had run out of legs upfront and had no leadership at the back, and not for the first time.

And again, this isn’t new.

It’s all well and good signing the best upcoming midfielder in Europe, but when he can’t play for 12 months surely it’s remiss not to address the reasons why you wanted him immediately?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 13, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp reacts during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Where are our leaders? Jordan Henderson carried his form from the Manchester City game into tonight’s fixture, and Emre Can, while at times he can look like a £150,000-a-week footballer, when he performs like tonight his release clause would be the least of my concerns which is all the more frustrating when you know he can be the player that teams would pay £75million for.

And what about the famed coaching that Klopp preaches of so much? The minutes on the training ground that he values more than anything. Can anyone genuinely say we look any more assured at the back than when he arrived?

Tonight laid bare the frustrations of the summer market and did nothing to allay Liverpool fans deepest fears about their side and the fear of it all slipping away is all too real too soon.

Liverpool had the perfect chance to put to bed the ghost of Man City tonight, but once again shot themselves in the foot.

But at least we’ll smash Burnley.

Won’t we?

READ: Liverpool 2 Sevilla 2: The Final Whistle

READ: Liverpool 2 Sevilla 2: Match Ratings

READ: Liverpool 2 Sevilla 2: Match Review

LISTEN: Liverpool 2 Sevilla 2: The Post-Match Show (SUBSCRIBERS)

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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo

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