Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool: 5 talking points

Liverpool suspect at the back

Lovren didn't cover himself in glory against Hoffenheim

Questions have been asked of Liverpool's defence ever since Jurgen Klopp took over as manager of the club - and they're not going away any time soon.

Nagelsmann is still a developing manager. As the youngest coach in the German Bundesliga, he still has a great deal to learn, and although Hoffenheim are a decent side they are not yet world-beaters.

So, it will be disappointing for Reds fans to see their defence troubled so easily by some rather routine forays forward by them.

In truth, Nagelsmann's troops should have been 1-0 up in the early exchanges when Dejan Lovren fouled Serge Gnabry in the box before Andrej Kramaric produced one of the weakest penalties ever seen on the UCL stage so that Simon Mignolet could comfortably parry to safety.

It was the rash nature of Lovren's challenge, combined with his uncomfortable presence whenever the ball came near him that should really worry Liverpool fans, because while it's not news to them that their side are weak at the back, the likes of Lovern and company should be more competent against a side of Hoffenehim's quality.

Moreover, Alexander-Arnold seemed far more interested in calling for offside for Hoffenehim's consolation than he did in actively attempting to put pressure on the goal-scorer. Not good enough.