Liverpool’s players returned to Merseyside for a training ground inquest into their Belgrade debacle as Jurgen Klopp leads the search for his team’s missing ‘spark’.

A third consecutive away defeat in the Champions League undermined hopes of progress into the knockout phase, albeit another draw between Napoli and PSG was helpful.

Tuesday night’s results mean all four clubs in Group C have a chance of qualification going into the last two fixtures, but for Klopp the process of resolving the multitude of problems evident during the 2-0 loss began.

“The gaffer, win or lose, he always speaks more the day after the game because that's when he can clear his head and that's where he gets the best out of us, where he can talk from his thoughts,” said defender Andy Robertson.

“That's what he's always done. It's no different if we win or lose but we'll definitely have a debrief and I'm sure a few things will be said.”

While such meetings are routine, the tone of Wednesday’s needed to be more forthright than usual. Klopp said the team ‘lost its mojo’ in Serbia. Robertson echoed that view.

“Maybe we are missing a bit of a spark in terms of not winning four or five-nil in most games, but if he thinks that we need to try and get it back,” said the Scottish captain.

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool had lost their mojo in Belgrade this week credit: Getty images

“We need to come together as a team and try and get what the gaffer wants, try to get the spark and try to win games more comfortably.

“It's one of those periods we need to get through. Last season everyone was used to us scoring four or five goals. That can't be possible every single game. At times we've dug out results, in the Premier League more so this season. Maybe it's not been as good to look at but we've been effective at it.”

What differed against Red Star was – for the first time this season – Liverpool’s defence failed to cloak deficiencies further forward. This was a night the back four needed the attackers to rediscover their form. It did not happen.

Klopp can point to the fact Dejan Lovren – who would have started – was a late withdrawal through illness, which meant the rarely used Joel Matip was paired with Virgil Van Van Dijk.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player with a huge future, has looked in need of a break for the last few weeks.

Although retrospective criticism hinted at an error – or even complacency – in leaving out Roberto Firmino, before the game Klopp was directly questioned on whether the Brazilian needed a rest. It would be hypocritical to argue the selection of Daniel Sturridge was wrong given the clamour to refresh the starting line-up in view of the busy schedule. Klopp would have hoped for more from those called up.

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It could be argued Klopp has over-protected summer recruits Naby Keita and Fabinho. Liverpool need the pair to start delivering. They did not cost £96 million to spend tough Champions League away days on the bench, but their early form has been well below what was anticipated. That Klopp did not have the confidence to use either was a further sign he wants the pair to acclimatise to his team’s style for a while longer.

Perhaps the biggest concern remains the inconsistent form of the forward line so lethal a year ago, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane enduring another difficult evening.

For all that, Liverpool return to Premier League action against Fulham on Sunday seeking to prolong their best start to a domestic season.

Robertson was keen for some perspective, pointing out performances such as that on Tuesday and against Napoli earlier in the group have been infrequent.

“It's just games that we haven't shown up at. They're probably the only ones this season that we haven't, for whatever reason,” he said.

“In Napoli, we were poor, very poor. It was the exact same (in Belgrade). They've been off days and we need to look at that. We knew this group was going to be tough and it's proving that way. It will go right to the wire. We're still confident we'll get through but we need to go to try and prove that now.”