Liverpool fans here in the Transfer Tavern are to be forgiven for losing a little faith in the current team after a fairly miserable start to their second full Premier League campaign under the stewardship of Jurgen Klopp. 

Klopp has endured a tough ride this season his fantastic attack is simply papering over the cracks at the back, our regular Liverpool fans are becoming all too familiar with holding their head in their hands and each week it seems to get worse. Some of our punters believe Klopp has lost his way with the team and putting all his eggs in a ‘you score three we’ll score four’ mentality, much like Anfield great Kevin Keegan did when in charge of Newcastle United.

While the Reds go through this phase and the league standings aren’t too complimentary, our landlord thinks some of the players the German has shown faith in aren’t showing him the same level of commitment back. Klopp has to have a good January window and address the serious defensive issues that have dogged his side all year, or face dropping out of the Top Four completely.

Indeed, if he can sort that out his Liverpool team could be on the ascendancy.

We take a look at the three players letting the German down at the moment…

Simon Mignolet

Klopp has bounced between the two goalkeepers in order to find out the true number one choice in a duel battle type scenario, neither has really stepped up to the plate and in turn resulting in some pretty poor goals being conceded.

They don’t have the confidence that they’ll be playing each week and that reverbs into the defence as they have a different number one behind them each week.

Right now, Mignolet looks like a nervous wreck when coming for crosses and the like and needs to up his game or prepare for an exit.

Dejan Lovren

The centre-back received a host of criticism against Spurs for his performance and that’s not an isolated incident, the Croatian and his whole defence has been in the firing line all season up to now.

Indeed, it doesn’t look like letting up at anytime soon. Without a quality leader at the back to take the team by the scruff of the neck, this Liverpool defence can expect a lot more insults fired their way.

Made the scapegoat for the Spurs loss, the former Southampton man will need some nurturing.

Jordan Henderson

Trying to fill Steven Gerrard’s boots the new club captain is attempting to do things his way, but as the skipper on the pitch, he should be firing his players up and taking the game by the scruff of the neck as his predecessor did on many occasion.

He may be in a different mould to Gerrard but he should be certainly looking to emulate him during a tough time for the Anfield outfit. Perhaps he’s been played out of position, though the England international needs to up his game defensively.