It's probably a reflection of modern life and its impatience that there is talk of "crisis" at Liverpool.
To be honest, I'm guilty of it as well, but crisis is an over-used word in the football sphere and this season most clubs (with the possible exception of Chelsea) seems to have been made out to have gone through one.
That being said, Liverpool do have many issues that they need to thrash out based on the evidence of consecutive and comprehensive defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal in their last two games.
Watching the latter game, it was shocking to see just how often they gave the ball away and were pressed into panic in the early stages of the match.
The Reds' centre-backs averaged 86 per cent when it came to successful passes from the back, whereas Arsenal's defensive duo were up over the 90 per cent mark.
Lucas challenges Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey on Saturday, with fellow centre mid Santi Cazorla in the background (Daniel Hambury / Empics Sports Photography Ltd)
Stats can be misleading on their own, but one area I am interested in - and we'll be speaking about it on Team 33 tomorrow - is the midfield. Specifically the base line behind the string section in front.
A cursory glance at the players available to Brendan Rodgers shows that he has a choice of a Steven Gerrard past his best, an admittedly improved (but not elite level) Jordan Henderson, the one-time so-called 'Welsh Xavi' Joe Allen and the dependable Lucas Leiva to choose from in the deepest midfield roles.
Is that really a contingent worthy of Premier League title challenges or Champions League qualification?
When you compare that to the midfield players available to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City, it is not in the same bracket by any stretch of the imagination.
And it certainly does not compare to the midfielders Liverpool had five years ago like Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and a Gerrard at his peak - a team Jamie Carragher described as the best Liverpool team he played in when he was on Off The Ball recently.
Alonso and Mascherano in November 2008 (AP Photo/Paul Thomas)
When the balance of the side is such that the forwards and attacking midfielders like Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling have space and time, some of the deficiencies behind can be masked, but as Man United and Arsenal showed, the Liverpool midfield lacks quality and punch when they are pressurised, hence the onus on the counter-attack which reaped some dividends in their recent good run of results.
But you just don't get the sense that if the emphasis is placed on the current engine room, that they have the answers.
If the Merseysiders are to progress, that central zone is an area that needs some surgery. Whether that involves developing a player like the promising Emre Can in that role or signing a new player, an answer is needed.
So the midfield issue is not a crisis, but it certainly requires some extra attention this summer if Liverpool are to close the gap.
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