Where did all the fun go? Liverpool must rediscover risk-taking brilliance | Jonathan Liew

At some point last season, Jürgen Klopp’s side adopted a measured approach based around control and drilled patterns but they mislaid a part of themselves in the process

What came first, the football or the fun? Does excellence on the pitch beget its own virtuous circle of good times, good vibes and good decisions? Or is successful football simply an expression of deeper traits: curiosity, ingenuity, outlook, an urge to move and be moved? Either way, these are probably the sorts of questions worth pondering as we address Liverpool’s current predicament. Because Liverpool’s biggest problem right now isn’t their league position or their front three or their cover at centre-half. It’s the absence of fun.

Results will bounce back soon enough. The underlying performance against Manchester United on Sunday was good, undone by some individual errors and a brilliant free-kick from Bruno Fernandes. They are neither as bad as they look now nor as good as they looked a month ago when many sensible observers were predicting they would win the league by 10 points. The centre-half issue, too, will work itself out. Injured players will return to fitness. Young players like Rhys Williams will find their feet.

Related: 'World is a crazy place': Klopp accuses Liverpool critics of lacking patience

Related: 'A punch in the face': Klopp takes blame as Burnley rip up Anfield record

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