Jurgen Klopp Learning Lessons About His Liverpool Squad, Now He Must Act on Them

Liverpool supporters are becoming accustomed to waking up on a Monday morning with the same thoughts in their head as they review another spineless performance from their team.

As 2015 comes to a close, there's plenty to look back on in this calendar year; the 6-1 debacle at Stoke City; the lifeless display on Steven Gerrard's last Anfield game against Crystal Palace; the pathetic showings against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final and at the Emirates against Arsenal; the 3-0 defeat to West Ham United. There are a few more, but those are the ones that stand out.

You can now add Watford, and arguably Newcastle United away a fortnight ago, to that list of shame for this Liverpool squad.

The Hornets eased past their more illustrious opponents at Vicarage Road, with the visitors never recovering from Adam Bogdan's mistake after two minutes that gifted the opening goal.

Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney tormented Liverpool's fragile defence, with the former adding two more to his impressive tally for the season.

If Jurgen Klopp thought he knew the squad he had inherited after the positive showings at Chelsea and Manchester City, he'll now understand the chronic weaknesses that persist within the Liverpool playing staff.

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The weaknesses all appear to revolve around the mentality within the squad. Former manager Brendan Rodgers sought to fill his squad with good technicians, leaving a shortage of players of the robust nature needed to compete over a full Premier League campaign.

It's no coincidence that Liverpool have struggled whenever they've come up against physical, fast and direct opponents—Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Watford in recent weeks.

Liverpool players are too often outmuscled, outpaced and out of position. It's high time those who have been performing below par were out of the team.

Forget the stats being highlighted in the mainstream media about former and new managers' records, the common denominator in all these pathetic performances is the players out on the pitch.

Jekyll and Hyde

Only this current Liverpool squad could score seven goals at Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium, then go to St James' Park and Vicarage Road and concede five without scoring.

These four results show the problems that persist with this group of Liverpool players—players who are technically capable but go missing when teams are physical and direct.

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Martin Skrtel was lauded for his display against Manchester City, but since then, the Slovakian has reverted to type, and instead we get to watch him dropping deep, ruining the defensive line and running scared of a pacy opponent like Ighalo.

Lucas Leiva began life under Klopp in strong form, but like Skrtel, his form has nosedived since then and wayward passes are now his trademark where yellow cards were before. Perhaps Klopp is asking more of him now, asking him to move the ball quicker, and the Brazilian isn't capable of doing so.

Perhaps Lucas and Skrtel, Liverpool's two longest-serving players, perfectly embody why this squad isn't good enough to compete at the top end of the table but can do in fleeting matches—they're not bad players, but they aren't consistent enough over a whole season.

That duo weren't the only two not to perform against Watford, far from it, but they symbolise the decline in Liverpool's squad. They aren't consistent enough over a season, and you'll never compete when these players are starting every game.

Adam Lallana has featured in every game under Klopp so far; he has two goals and three assists to his name in 22 appearances this season. Last season, he had four assists and six goals from 41 appearances. That simply isn't a good enough return for a player who starts every game. He goes missing when the going gets tough, as shown against Watford.

This trio of players are starting every game at the moment—where were they when the Reds went 2-0 down after 15 minutes? Did you expect them to be the ones to drag this team forward and pick up a result? Have they ever done that?

Your starting players must be leaders—players who perform in nine out of 10 games, who show up when the rest don't. Liverpool's starting players do the opposite.

Winning Mentality

Rodgers' penchant for signing technical players has left Klopp with a squad lacking in character or a winning mentality.

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Of the starting XI at Watford, the trophies won between all 11 players amounts to the honours list of a mid-table club, not one seeking to be among Europe's elite.

Lucas, Skrtel and captain Jordan Henderson have won a League Cup. Alberto Moreno was in the Sevilla squad that won the UEFA Europa League last year, while Lallana won the Football League Trophy with Southampton in 2010.

Klopp must fill this void by signing players with winning pedigree—something Rodgers failed to do in his three years in charge. Players need to arrive who will fight to compete and win trophies and who know what it takes to do so.

Forward Conundrum

Klopp has kept his defence and midfield pretty similar in his opening three months in charge, only making changes due to injury, but up front, he has changed from game to game.

He opted for Christian Benteke against Newcastle and West Brom, which seemed to play into the hands of the opposition defences, especially given Liverpool's inability to cross a ball.

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Klopp went for Roberto Firmino against Watford, but the Brazilian failed to make any impact in the game. The boss sought to rectify this by bringing on Divock Origi when Skrtel suffered an injury in the first half, a bold move that gave Liverpool an attacking presence at least against Watford's defence.

The fact Liverpool's top scorers this season—Philippe Coutinho and Benteke—have just five goals each points to Klopp needing to find an attacking solution.

Firmino doesn't look capable of being the No. 9 every week, while Benteke looks unsuited to Liverpool's style of play. How Klopp would love Daniel Sturridge to be fit to offer the solution.

Weaknesses

Liverpool's weaknesses are numerous and apparent for all to see. Klopp will have learned them now, and he must act on them where Rodgers failed to.

That means a new goalkeeper, new centre-back and a robust holding midfielder. Liverpool need dynamic, solid and physically capable players who can withstand the challenge of the Premier League campaign. Players who perform consistently, not sporadically.

Liverpool supporters will be hoping Klopp is capable of attracting such players to the club. And soon.