Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pointed the finger of blame at a "limited squad" and hectic schedule following the Reds' 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
The Merseyside giants were seeking a fourth win on the bounce in all competitions in Saturday's Premier League lunchtime kickoff but were undone by one of their former strikers.
Taiwo Awoniyi struck a second-half winner for the Tricky Trees from close range, and Liverpool could not find a way past the steadfast Dean Henderson in the dying embers.
Klopp has been bedevilled by a number of injuries already this season, and he was unable to call upon either Darwin Nunez or Thiago Alcantara for the visit to the City Ground.
Speaking to the press after the game, the German was at a loss to explain how his side did not put the ball in back of the net from one of their countless set pieces, but a "super intense" fixture list has not helped matters.
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"Away, Nottingham not in a great situation and [a] super-intense week for us, two super-intense games, [we] had to change late, so it was clear that we have to be ready to put a big fight in," Klopp told reporters.
"The boys did. But how we cannot score from the set pieces, I have no idea. That's it now, pretty much. So the performance I can explain, the result not really, to be honest.
"It is just intense – six days, three games and [a] limited squad, you cannot exactly do a massive change in the centre of the park.
"With all, there was a bit of uncertainty and I understand that, but I didn't see that with the boys, they really wanted it. I really thought we made a real fight of it and that's the thing we had to do today."
Nunez was withdrawn with hamstring tightness after scoring the winner against West Ham United in midweek, and the Uruguay international was not passed fit to take part at the City Ground.
Meanwhile, Thiago was ruled out just a few hours before kickoff due to an ear infection, which forced Klopp to draft Curtis Jones into the starting lineup at the last minute.
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"The decision was [made] in the moment he woke up and had the pain. The doctor went there and they tried everything, went to the hospital and stuff like this. It didn't work out," Klopp said of Thiago's absence.
The Reds are due to take on Ajax in a pivotal Champions League encounter on Wednesday, and Klopp is hopeful that Nunez and Ibrahima Konate will be able to return in Amsterdam.
"So, as I said, Thiago got a bad ear infection last night and there was no chance for him to do anything. We drove him home. Darwin should be back, this game was just too early," Klopp added.
"I think another day of recovery would have helped him, but we played today. At least that is my knowledge in the moment. Ibou will train from tomorrow on and Naby [Keita] as well, but Naby is far off so he starts training now after a long period."
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Arthur and Joel Matip also occupy places in the treatment room for Liverpool, who have failed to win any of their first five away matches of the Premier League season.
Ben Knapton
