Liverpool are currently experiencing a two-week hiatus from Premier League football due to the ongoing international break.
With almost a third of the season now completed, manager Jurgen Klopp has a chance to reflect and take stock of his team's performances and results so far, before addressing any necessary issues when his players return to Merseyside next week.
After 11 matches in England's top-flight, Liverpool sit fourth in the table. They have 22 points from a possible 33, having accumulated six wins, four draws and one loss.
Upon reflection of their showings, it is reasonable to suggest that control is the biggest element that has been lacking up until now.
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Klopp's outfit have played 17 matches in all competitions, yet his players have conceded at least two goals on six occasions against AC Milan, Brentford, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Brighton and West Ham United, equating to around 35% of their games.
The Reds managed to gain a lead against every one of those teams listed, but just two of the games ended in victory, with both of those coming in the Champions League, against Milan and Madrid.
Liverpool's attack is largely unrivalled. They have scored at least twice in all but one of their 17 matches this season, and no team across Europe's top five leagues average more shots on a per-match basis.
On the defensive side of the game, the Reds haven't quite been as relentless. They have conceded 11 league goals compared to Manchester City's six and Chelsea's four, and they rank 18th across Europe's top five leagues for shots faced per match.
Rather than Liverpool's issues in defence stemming from their actual defenders, it is possible that Klopp's midfield department has to shoulder some of the blame.
All of the German's eight options for the middle of the park - except for Jordan Henderson - have suffered from at least one injury this season, which has forced the 54-year-old boss to mix up his selections on a regular basis.
As a consequence of the variety of players used to form Liverpool's central midfield trident, the team haven't always been able to control proceedings with their usual degree of dominance and assurance, with erratic spells displayed against Brentford, West Ham and Man City in particular.
In order for the Reds to close the four-point gap that has emerged between themselves and Chelsea at the top of the table, Klopp must resolve his team's ability to own the pitch from start to finish, which should transform draws into wins.
With Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho back in action after recovering from their respective setbacks, the more controlled version of Liverpool could be lying in wait ahead of the team's hectic Christmas period.
