Liverpool, for the best part of an hour in their last game, were matched by a youthful Aston Villa side who exposed a weakness in the Reds' game that has been apparent for a run of four games.
Since the resounding 7-0 win over Crystal Palace, Liverpool have struggled to create chances freely; one goal from West Brom, Newcastle and then Southampton is the only evidence needed there.
The reason for that drop-off is more complex than simply one thing, but the numbers since Diogo Jota has been out of the side are pretty clear in terms of the chances being created and taken.
Quite simply, the Portugal forward has been a huge loss, and he will be out for a few more weeks yet.
The player who changed the game, though, against Aston Villa, alongside Thiago Alcantara, was Xherdan Shaqiri, who emerged off the bench and almost immediately provided two assists.
The Swiss' chances of competitive action this season have been hampered by injuries, but as long as he can stay fit, he can be the answer that Liverpool crave.
"I’ve always rated him and I think he is a fantastic little footballer with great intelligence," said football coach Mark Baker on the Post-Game podcast after watching him against Aston Villa.
"He offers something that the rest of Liverpool’s attackers don’t in the final third - he can find a moving target, he has a final pass and he has imagination and guile.
"He has the ability to pass between lines and break lines in congested areas.
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"As Liverpool go on and play teams throughout the season who are going to sit deep, there needs to be a change to try and accommodate him and get him more minutes on the pitch.
"We know that Liverpool’s system does not suit Shaqiri in terms of the 4-3-3 - he is not a player who will get out wide and stretch the play - so maybe there is a change to a 4-2-3-1 with him playing off the right, with Mohamed Salah as the number nine.
"If Thiago can stay fit and be one of the central midfield players, and you have actually got another player who can break down compact sides who are inferior, that would be great to see going forward.
"In the end, Liverpool got through against Aston Villa. But the issue [of creativity before Shaqiri came on] was still very much there."
Against Manchester United on Sunday, Klopp might struggle to find a place in the starting XI for Shaqiri, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are unlikely to sit deep for the entire contest as most teams might upon visiting Anfield.
It is more in matches to come after that which could see Shaqiri's value really rise to the surface.
After Manchester United it is Tottenham, and then West Ham and Brighton, before Manchester City and Leicester.
In the Spurs, West Ham and Brighton games, there is more than an argument that Shaqiri should be starting, assuming Jota is not recovered, given without him, Liverpool have been severely lacking.
Shaqiri might not have had the minutes he would have wanted so far this season, but his time to shine - should he be able to maintain his fitness - is just around the corner.
