Jurgen Klopp wants his side to show more aggression in their play and insists now is the time to fix-up.
After a sobering week where Liverpool lost 3-2 in Toulouse and required a stoppage-time equaliser to draw at Luton Town, the manager is calling for a big reaction this weekend.
The Reds return to Anfield on Sunday to take on Brentford in the Premier League but will have little time on the training pitch to work on improvements.
“We can be a really good team, we have shown that. But I want it now,” Klopp says. “We cannot have what happened (in Toulouse). We were not aggressive enough. It was as easy as that.
“I want us to learn from it. We can lose a game. My God. But we have to use it to learn the right things. To win a football game, you need to be aggressive.”
Liverpool’s worst two performances of the season have followed back-to-back and Klopp has highlighted other elements that need improving.
“We really have to defend better,” he continued.
“(In Toulouse) we had four versus one situations and they won the ball. We can’t have one versus one with three watching. That is what we have to change.”
Asked whether such troubles were to be expected this season given the changes to the team, and if these difficult nights were part of the process, Klopp replied: “I wish it would not be necessary to be honest. I wish we would learn it quickly.
“It is definitely very important. Generally we are in a positive situation and it is important to learn to deal with that. There has been a lot of praise. There have been a lot of comments.
“I am happy with that for the team and individuals. But in these moments you have to be there. It really feels like this (Toulouse) and Luton is a real learning curve, and not just because we are away.
“Is it part of the learning process? Yes. But it still doesn’t feel great.”
(Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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