Liverpool transfer news: Carvalho Caicedo Hincapie

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I think naturally there was a lot of disappointment among Liverpool fans (and players) after the game against Manchester United on Sunday, and understandably so.

United, clearly, are not in a great place right now, and so much about the game, and the occasion, pointed to a Liverpool win, so it will have felt like a defeat in many ways for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

But they only have themselves to blame. Whatever their thoughts on United’s approach, they were the ones who failed to produce the quality required. They dominated in terms of statistics – shots, corners, possession, expected goals, territory – but there was a lack of composure and clarity in much of what they did. They peppered the United goal with 34 efforts, but many of them were speculative. Andre Onana made eight saves, but none of them were anything out of the ordinary.

None of Klopp’s key attacking players – Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold – played particularly well. Diaz and Nunez in particular struggled, and for once the bench was unable to bail the Reds out.

On the flip side, there was encouragement to be found in the performance of Virgil van Dijk, who continues to look like the best and most dominant centre-back in the league, and in the likes of Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo, players who have been given a chance due to injuries.

There’s no question, though, that Klopp will want more, particularly from his attack, as we head into a crucial stage of the campaign.

Ten games without a goal for a No.9 is always an issue, and it certainly is with Darwin Nunez right now. Liverpool’s attack generally has been a little blunt of late – of their last nine goals, only one has been scored by a forward – and certainly the Uruguayan has suffered a dip in form following a very good start to the season.

Some will argue that the service hasn’t been great – Trent Alexander-Arnold moving infield means Liverpool have occasionally lacked width in games, with fewer quality crosses coming in – but Nunez certainly isn’t helping himself. His tendency to get caught offside in build-up play has been noticeable in recent weeks, and while there is no lack of endeavour, there appears to be a…