Jurgen Klopp has challenged his players to be more positive as they prepare to return to Leicester City tomorrow.
The Reds were knocked out of the league cup by the Foxes on Tuesday, a defeat that extends their winless run to four matches and increases the pressure on Klopp.
“We are still fluent and still creative but we don’t score and that’s the problem,” said the German. “I need to help the players to stay positive. We work on it. We have sorted a few of these problems but not enough. We need to be more concentrated in these situations and we have to be more clinical.”
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Liverpool were anything but clinical on Tuesday, wasting several first half chances that should have put them out of sight against Leicester.
Their defence, meanwhile, was as slack as ever and they have now conceded ten goals in four matches.
Klopp. however, doesn’t agree with those on Merseyside who claim his squad are going through something of a crisis. “It sounds like we have nil points and are the worst team in the league,” he said of his side, currently in eighth position, five points behind leaders Manchester City. “By talking about it I only create headlines.”
Nonetheless Klopp did talk, declaring that the dressing room has the characters to see them through this rough spell despite no obvious leaders in the mould of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
“Yes we have the right characters,” he said. “Sometimes we react well, other times not perfectly. We can improve. Character is nothing fixed. You can’t say you cannot change your mentality, of course we can. We have proved it already hundreds of times.”
Another aspect of their game that must be changed is Liverpool’s recent habit of conceding the first goal, leaving them to play catch-up.
“It’s concentration but it’s a little bit of readiness,” he said. “In different moments we concede goals. We now use formation better but we need to fight for second balls… that’s what we have to work on. Each manager in football has another hole to fill.”
Klopp will likely be without Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Emre Can for the trip to the King Power Stadium but someone who should feature is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, heavily criticised for his performance in Tuesday’s defeat.
The England winger moved to Anfield from Arsenal days after the Reds hammered the Gunners 4-0 but the ‘Ox’ has so far failed to impress the Kop.
“That’s the world of football,” said Klopp, in response to a question about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s detractors. “It’s [criticism] quite quick. He had a few good situations and a few unlucky situations. He did really well in the moments he is trying to adapt to the style of play.”
Tomorrow’s trip is the first of three away matches for Liverpool with Spartak Moscow (Champions League) and Newcastle to follow in the next ten days. After that they welcome Manchester United to Anfield for a match Klopp must win if he’s to retain his credibility with the Kop.
Tomorrow’s Premier League fixtures (3pm unless stated)
- West Ham United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Burnley vs. Huddersfield Town
- Everton vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
- Southampton vs. Manchester United
- Stoke City vs. Chelsea
- Swansea City vs. Watford
- Leicester City vs. Liverpool (5.30pm, live on BT Sport)
Sunday’s Premier League fixture
- Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Newcastle United (4pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday’s Premier League fixture
- Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
