Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool need to go ‘back to basics’ defensively having leaked a surprising amount of goals at the start of the season.
The Reds have looked far less convincing defensively at the start of the current campaign, appearing almost impenetrable in previous years, and were crushed by Brighton on Saturday as they conceded three in an entertaining draw.
The result means Liverpool are now ninth in the Premier League – 11 points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League clash with Rangers, Klopp admitted he was unhappy with the club’s recent defensive record.
“We get a lot of goals like that,” he said. “When the timing isn’t perfect defensively, we’re a little bit open.
“The gap is open for a short while and Brighton took advantage of it quite often, driving through lanes where they could turn. We have to be more compact.”
“We’ve got it in our heads. We know it. We said last week that defending is an art and it’s worked well for a long time and when it doesn’t work you realize how much you have to go back to the basics.”
“We need to defend consistently better. We need to attack consistently better.”
Klopp also took time to discuss what he expects from the clash with the Gers: “They will be dangerous in any situation, even if our players are not low on confidence. Low confidence happens to everyone, even Ronaldo and Messi.”
“When you prepare for a game, you prepare for a game regardless of the situation. Rangers have done well in general, but the results in the Champions League have not gone as they wanted, so we expect a fight.
“A good football team. Well coached. An outstanding European season last season and great success in qualifying for the Champions League. I saw the Hearts game and they are a really good football team so we have to prepare for that.” We expect a real fight, a real fight.”
