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Jurgen Klopp's remit is clear, it seems. Turn Liverpool into Borussia Dortmund.

With good reason, too. Klopp's Dortmund were enthralling, dominant and downright fun; most importantly of all, they were successful. Champions, even. Twice.

Over to you, Jurgen. The German has been keen to stress in the opening few weeks of his tenure that patience is essential; it will take more than a couple of training sessions and sparkling meetings with the press to have Liverpool performing to that standard.

Still, the comparison is inevitable. Similar off the pitch, and a near-identical situation on it. He took charge of the Bundesliga club when it needed a boost. He strapped a rocket to their back and sent them into orbit.

High tempo, heavy metal football, Gegenpressing. He brought it to Dortmund, and now he will bring it to Merseyside. Philippe Coutinho can be his Mario Gotze; Mamadou Sakho his Mats Hummels; Christian Benteke his Robert Lewandowski. For some people, it's a matter of when, not if.

Perhaps his opening week as Liverpool manager – three games, three draws – demonstrates how it won't be so simple. Football does not follow a certain formula; the pieces do not fall into place so easily. There is much more to do.

Realisation, perhaps, set in against Southampton. For the seventh time in nine games, Liverpool drew 1-1, six of those coming after the Reds scored the initial goal. After the game, Klopp spoke of how the Saints' equaliser sapped everything from his team – and the crowd.

IN PICS: Liverpool 1-1 Southampton

“We saw how big the disappointment was of all people,” he later said. “It's football. It's only a goal. Nobody believed we could turn the game again, and that's the first problem.

“Maybe you can understand why we aren't calm when we have the chances, we have to build up our confidence and belief in our strength.”

Six times Liverpool have found their way in front, six times they have relinquished the lead. Six times, too, they have failed to fight back in any tangible way, accepting the draw.

That sequence predates Klopp. It accounts for another manager, Brendan Rodgers, and several other players. It is a word used too often in the game, and Klopp was quick to dismiss it, but the mentality clearly needs work.

And so, when Sadio Mane bundled home at the far post, Klopp's remit became clear: before turning Liverpool into Dortmund, he must turn them into the Liverpool of old.

It is a Liverpool which can defend a lead or have the confidence to fight back if they lose it; it is a Liverpool that retains focus, and composure, for 90 minutes.

That is not the Liverpool of late. In truth, that has not been the Liverpool of – at least – the past 15 months.

Before turning Martin Skrtel into Neven Subotic, he must turn him back into the no-nonsense Slovakian who won his aerial battles. Before Coutinho can become Gotze - or even better, the old Coutinho again - he must remember the Brazilian who destroyed defences in the second half of last season. Benteke becoming a Dortmund-style no.9 is some prospect, but he has to become a Liverpool no.9 first.

It was interesting to listen to Klopp post-game. He spoke of the problems the Europa League brought, with Thursday to Sunday keeping the opposition fresher; he also mentioned how his side were still developing, finding their feet under new circumstances.

They were problems which dogged Rodgers during his final weeks at Anfield. The hangover, for now, continues.

Klopp, however, brings fresh ideas. He brings an acknowledgement that things need fixing. He speaks with an openness about the squad's fallibility.

The new man has the ability – in time – to do to Liverpool what he did to Dortmund.

The past two months has constantly seen Liverpool take a step forward, only to quickly take one back.

Now, Klopp may have to take a step back, and rediscover what made Liverpool the team they once were, before moving forward with them. It will not be easy, but accepting that it won't be is half the battle - and one he's already won.