Liverpool are about to be reminded of two major problems that must be addressed

It wasn't just the first sighting of Liverpool's blindingly yellow third kit that proved a shock to the senses at Brentford back in September.

The subsequent 90 minutes sounded sufficient alarms that matters weren't entirely right with Jurgen Klopp's side.

And not all of the issues have since been fully addressed.

The 3-3 draw highlighted two shortcomings that have too often hampered the Reds this season and go some way to explaining why they are now a mammoth 14 points behind moneybags Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, albeit with two games in hand.

READ MORE: Liverpool suffer mini-derby frustration as two absences give squad clues for Brentford

READ MORE: 'We have to learn' - Fabinho sounds 'dangerous' Liverpool warning as striker return welcomed

First was the defence, which was breached three times. For context, the only other occasion Brentford have scored that many in a Premier League game came at Newcastle United in November.

While only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea and Manchester City have a better top-flight defensive record than Liverpool this campaign - and no team has conceded fewer at home - the chances are that if an opponent scores once, they'll do so again.

The Reds have conceded in nine of their 20 Premier League games so far this season. In six of those, they have leaked at least twice.

But even after shipping two goals at Brentford, Klopp's side fought back to lead 3-2 only to let the advantage slip through their fingers during the final 10 minutes.

That, too, has been a theme running through their Premier League campaign, pointing to a failure in game management - once a cornerstone of Klopp's side.

Consider this. After their victory against Chelsea on Saturday, City have now led in 18 games and won them all. Liverpool by contrast, have led in 17 but managed only 12 victories.

The return game against Brentford today - their first Anfield visit for a league game since 1946 - could see Liverpool move into second as they aim for only a second win inside 90 minutes in seven games.

The Bees were thrashed 4-1 at Southampton in midweek and without a win on the road since the surprise success at West Ham United in October.

Klopp, though, knows it won't be easy against Thomas Frank's men, who have previously also claimed the scalps of Arsenal and Everton and were only narrowly beaten by City and Chelsea.

"Brentford are a team who have a specific way to play, especially against us," says Klopp. "They are pretty direct since then.

"I think the goalkeeper that day was the playmaker, there was many long balls and we struggled to defend these in the first place, too many second balls for Brentford.

"But the goals they scored were absolutely avoidable. Set-pieces, we were a bit sleepy and in the end they could bring the ball somehow into the back of the net, so that's a way how it should not go.

"I hope we can play much better than we did in the first game and can use Anfield – that would be helpful."

While sleepy set-pieces have been costing Liverpool in an attacking sense - a succession of poor corners in Thursday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg goalless stalemate with Arsenal frustrated the home crowd - it remains that no club has scored more Premier League goals from dead-ball situations this season.

Liverpool - again without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, Divock Origi and Harvey Elliott - are likely to ring the changes today with Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas all vying for a starting role.

And Klopp will celebrate his 350th match in charge of Liverpool today, with his win ratio of 60.74% currently the highest win percentage of any Liverpool manager in their history of being a Football League club.

"I hope to enjoy the next few years as well," says the German, who is under contract until 2024. "It's all good but these numbers are not important to me, but 350 is a nice one – better than 15 and out."