There's nothing quite like an international break to put a Premier League manager on edge.
And Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be no different as he hopes his players return back from national team duty unscathed towards the end of next week.
The present pause in action, though, offers the Reds a final chance for reflection and considered appraisal before the hectic winter schedule kicks in until a brief breather at the end of January.
Having seen their club record-equalling 25-game unbeaten run ended with a disappointing 3-2 defeat at West Ham United on Sunday, there will be plenty for the Liverpool coaching staff to ponder over the coming days.
But what matters are the most pressing?
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Sort the midfield
Whether it be due to Injuries, unavailability or lack of form, Liverpool have been unable to field anything like a settled midfield so far this season.
While that has seemingly made little difference to their attacking exploits - a whopping 49 goals have been scored in 17 games - the cover for the defence hasn't been consistent.
Gini Wijnaldum's loss has been felt in that regard, although Liverpool haven't been helped by Fabinho, their best defensive midfielder, having failed to start more than half the games.
Klopp will want his engine room purring more often - and with greater resilience.
Tinker with tactical change
There have been noticeable alterations to Liverpool's approach this season - the defence is taking a higher line with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip back fit, while Trent Alexnader-Arnold has regularly drifted into central positions - but recent results indicate they may have become a bit easier to read.
Previously mentioned personnel issues are partly to blame for that.
But there has been no sign yet this season of Liverpool switching to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-4 as they did on occasion last term.
"Our game needs freshness, we want our players to be unpredictable," said Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders last month. That will be the aim.
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Consider the Firmino problem - and the Africa Cup of Nations
The loss of Roberto Firmino with a hamstring problem for the foreseeable means Liverpool have been shorn of an influential attacking cog.
Diogo Jota is the obvious replacement in the central area, but with so many games on the horizon - the Reds have 13 between November 20 and January 2 - the forward line will need to be kept fresh.
Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino will have their chances, particularly in cup competitions.
But both have shown enough to indicate they may be worthy of more regular inclusion in the Premier League - which will be vital with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane expected to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in the New Year.
Plan for more defensive rotation
With qualification for the Champions League knockout stages assured, the two remaining group games are, like the Carabao Cup quarter-final before Christmas at home to Leicester City, a chance to give fringe players an outing.
Not least the centre-backs, with Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Nat Phillips all seeking minutes.
Such action will come in useful given there are three midweek Premier League games in December and Klopp will surely look to utilise all his defensive options to fend off any fatigue.
Get players back fit
A final but obvious one, with the work in treatment room likely to be just as important as that on the training ground in the next week or so.
Liverpool hope James Milner, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez will be back after the international break, while Thiago Alcantara will have a further opportunity to build up his fitness having only just returned from six weeks out with a calf complaint.
And Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will want to increase his sharpness having featured more regularly in recent weeks.
