Despite a stroke of genius from Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool were held for what was a disappointing draw at St.James' Park on Sunday evening.
Further ground was lost on Man City and Man United after Joselu was very fortunate to finish having been put through by a sublime pass from Jonjo Shelvey in the second half, and Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure in his post-match interview where he called bullshit on Sky Sports' statistics:
In the studio, former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness were left to identify the reasons for the lead being allowed to slip, and once again fingers were pointed at the defending.
Carragher was not impressed with the centre-back pairing of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren for failing to identify the threat of Joselu's run and Shelvey's ability to pick him out, in what was a case of deja-vu for the man who made 508 appearances for the club.
It sums Liverpool up defensively. In total control and they concede yet again. How many times have we got to say it?
Listen, we've just waxed lyrical about Jonjo there, it came from Sturridge losing the ball and that happened far too often, but again, Liverpool's centre-backs are all over the place.
It's so poor. There's a little bit of fortune [about Joselu's finish] but how poor that is from Liverpool - I said last week on Monday Night Football about how they are never switched on, I think I said 'streetwise' 25 times, but I'm going to say it again.
As soon as that ball is lost - Jonjo Shelvey - think who you are playing against, what's he gonna do? Look forward.
Get in position early. A lack of concentration has cost Liverpool and I'll say it again, whenever Liverpool conceded chances, they are always 'big chances', and this is exactly the same, a man running through on your goal.
Carragher then ruled Liverpool out of the title race for their failure to address the problems that were apparent last season, and pondered how much Philippe Coutinho had been papering over the cracks.
Do I think Liverpool are a genuine title challenger this season? No. The summer transfer window did not go well for them. They didn't fix the problems they needed to.
You do think, where would Liverpool be without Philippe Coutinho right now?
Liverpool find themselves seven points adrift of the leaders after seven games, but the most frustrating aspect for the supporters, and Carragher must be included in that, is the problems hindering results are the same problems that were present last season.
Not the ideal result heading into an international break, the worry now will be over whether or not Coutinho, Mané, and Salah return without picking up an injury that would make the problems worsen.
