Fighting spirit - Liverpool's strongest weapon under coach Jurgen Klopp is no longer maintained.
They could easily beat Manchester United 7-0 but easily lost to relegation-champions Bournemouth immediately afterwards. And a The Kop who were once afraid of holding Arsenal to a draw lost a weak defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
If they do not improve their performance significantly, Liverpool will face the prospect of not having a ticket to the Champions League, even the Europa League.
That would seriously affect the Reds' appeal to the stars and damage the pride of a major brand.
According to British media, Liverpool has given up the race for the signature of young talent Jude Bellingham. The Kop will prioritize more modest targets such as Chelsea's Mason Mount or Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister.
So, how can Liverpool regain the standards of previous seasons?
In terms of personnel, Klopp will certainly not renew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner, while Arthur is likely to return to Juventus.
For the remaining pillars, the German strategist must find a way to recharge as they all play below average this season.
Worryingly, Klopp has yet to find a solution to Liverpool's problems. The German fighter could only promise he and the team will return.
Even Van Dijk has been criticised. Two Dutch legends, Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullitt, spoke up to say that their compatriot's central defender lacked leadership qualities and was causing chaos at Anfield.
Van Dijk revealed his weaknesses when Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson continuously pushed up, while Fabinho was no longer a solid shield in front of the defense.
Some say that after nearly 8 years of comprehensive competition under Klopp, many of Liverpool's pillars have been exhausted. The effort to win the quarter-final last season has dominated emotions.
Liverpool have only won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and have lost in two important arenas, the Premier League and the Champions League.
Confidence was gone, and arguments broke out between the players on the pitch. They are heartbroken to see a promising season in a deadlock.
Maybe Liverpool players have stopped listening to Klopp? Of course not necessarily so. But the relationship between the manager and the players will also fade over time. That raises a question: Should Klopp leave?
Of course, Klopp is one of Liverpool's greatest coaches. But, as a deep-thinking and intelligent person, Kloop understands that every boss has certain limits.
Will there be a 27-year reign like Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United? Perhaps, no.
Reorganizing the squad to rebuild everything will be very important, but it will not be easy if there is no ticket to the Champions League.
And with Liverpool far behind the teams in the Top 4, it will be more necessary to rebuild the current squad to create a revival. The current 5-match winless streak emphasizes that.
What happens next at Anfield will be very unpredictable, because no matter what, Liverpool cannot continue as they have shown this season.
