Two late goals in each half condemned Liverpool to defeat against Hull City in a game that was a must-win for their Premier League title hopes.

Poor ball control by Emre Can gave away a needless corner from which Alfred N’Diaye bundled the ball home for the hosts just a minute before half-time.

Jurgen Klopp’s side upped the tempo in the second half with Philippe Coutinho having the best chance but blasted the ball hihg and wide from three yards out.

Hull later seized the initiative as Sadio Mane lost posession on the edge of their box, allowing Everton loanee Oumar Niasse to break and score his first goal.

Here were the key talking points from the Kcom Stadium:

Is this more than a January blip?

 

There’s little doubt that 2017 has so far been cruel for Liverpool.

Games against strugglers Sunderland, Swansea and now Hull City were expected to garnish nine points but in reality have yielded just one from the trio of games.

Sharing the spoils with Manchester United and Premier League champions-elect Chelsea means that the Anfield club have now managed only three points in total.

Klopp’s players are both for goals and consistency at the back, with each problem exacerbating the other.

Sadio Mane’s return from international duty was expected to end the drought with six goals in the previous nine for a team scoring for fun at the tail end of 2016.

Lucas struggling as defensive deputy

 

Is it time for Jurgen Klopp to abandon using Lucas Leiva as the Reds’ back-up central defender?

Liverpool have lost all three games that he has started so far this year, winning only one in an FA Cup third round replay away to Plymouth Argyle.

The Brazilian, of course, is not the only culprit in Liverpool’s leaky defence.

Injuries to Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Matip have forced Klopp to make a series of changes to his defence in recent weeks.

But with Mamadou Sahko making a deadline day exit, Liverpool are looking awfully short on both experience and form in defence.

And that’s not counting the question marks that hang over the team’s existing goalkeeping options – a double-edged sword if ever there was one.

Fans will now begin to wonder of the prudence in shipping out Sakho who, for all of his discipline issues, at least offered the team assurance at the back.

Klopp must start with a proper striker

 

In recent weeks, the goals have dried up for Liverpool, seemingly losing the special ingredient that made them so mesmerising in the autumn and early winter.

Roberto Firmino, bar the brace he bagged against Swansea, looks out of form, and the attacking play from the forward players has become pedestrian.

His compatriot fared little better against Hull with the best chance of the game falling to Phillipe Coutinho, who blazed over from three yards out.

So often Liverpool have failed to get numbers in the box against teams defending deep which may offer either Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi a return to a starring role.

Admittedly neither have put forward compelling cases in recent weeks but Klopp might now consider a change in approach to revive the club’s Champions League aspirations.

Title bid is officially over

 

Genuine title contenders rarely have a month as abysmal as Liverpool had in January.

The draw against Chelsea earlier in the week was a respectable point, but a game they had to win in order to keep pace with the Premier League leaders.

Losses to two of the teams in the division’s bottom five, and a point against Sunderland means that Liverpool – dumped out of the cups by Southampton and Wolves – must now realistically settle for a European qualification spot.

Much of that depends on the team being able to find their confidence and form again – and to find it fast.