Klopp admits Liverpool need to improve 'basic' defense as 'same shortcomings' emerge

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits his side need to 'get back to basics' to improve their defense with 'the same shortcomings' in their backline leading to goals.

Klopp's side have slipped to ninth place in the Premier League after just two Premier League wins in seven games at the start of their season.

They have also managed just two clean sheets, conceding 14 goals in nine games in all competitions, and Klopp admits he is looking for 'solutions' to stem the flood of goals.

"When you spot a problem and think you have the solution, you expect it to be instantaneous. That's never the case in football," Klopp said.

"We've conceded similar goals now, they've come through the same gaps.

"When the timing of our defense is not perfect, we are too open. So yes, we have to be more compact.

"Defending is an art and it worked very well for us for a long time. But when it doesn't work, you realize you have to go back to basics.

"We can't always start from scratch. If we can help boys defend themselves differently, we have to."

Klopp also claimed that it was natural for even the best to experience a drop in confidence.

"People may wonder how come these players aren't full of confidence?" said the German.

"Do you think Cristiano Ronaldo (reduced to a substitute role at Manchester United) is at the height of his confidence level right now?

"He was for ages the best player in the world and now it just doesn't go his way and it's not exactly the same. It happens to all of us.

"Lionel Messi played last season (his first at Paris St Germain) where it wasn't exactly the same because this stuff is really important for all of us and you have to work for it.

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"You have to take the small things to take a step in the right direction and be really ready for when he is back and that's what we're doing."

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