Klopp hits out at Liverpool forwards, explains ‘problem’

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp has implored his Liverpool forwards to work harder on the pitch.

Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have scored a combined 52 goals in all competitions this season, but Klopp feels something has been lacking recently.

The manager claims that the trio have not been putting in the defensive graft since the 4-3 win over Manchester City earlier this month.

Asked whether Liverpool were suffering from complacency as a result of the victory over City, Klopp replied: “I don’t think so. But if you want, since then our offensive positions didn’t defend as well as then, for example. That’s the truth.

“These boys, we know potential-wise are world class. But real world class is to bring it on the pitch again and again and again.

“We had two completely different games, but especially against West Brom compared to Swansea, we needed all positions to be involved in defending.

“West Brom was not only the most experienced team age-wise that’s ever played, they had quality with Rodriguez. If he wasn’t injured for two years he’d be on another level and he is in a good moment for West Brom. Robson-Kanu, hard workers in midfield, Brunt crosses from everywhere, so they are a good team.

“From that, you need to defend really in a compact formation. We were not compact. That’s the problem.

“When they played a pass for the first goal, we lost two challenges, that’s not cool. We could have defended it already. The second one is just, as a group, no good defending.”

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