Klopp hits out at Reds' forwards - by insisting they don't do enough defending

Liverpool players Roberto Firmino (L), Sadio Mane (C) and Mohammed Salah (R) [Photo: Courtesy]

Jurgen Klopp has hit out at Liverpool's forwards for shirking their defensive responsibilities.

Klopp has warned his stars that they can only consider themselves as world class when they produce that standard of performance on a consistent basis.

The Reds were lauded for the manner in which they inflicted a first Premier League defeat of the season on runaway leaders City, with attacking quartet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah all scoring in a 4-3 triumph a fortnight ago, report the Liverpool Echo.

However, Liverpool then saw an 18-game unbeaten run ended with defeat at rock-bottom Swansea City before suffering a shock 3-2 FA Cup fourth round defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Klopp was unhappy with his team's defending against the Baggies and forced his players to watch a re-run of the game at Melwood while pointing out what went wrong.

And while he doesn't believe complacency has become an issue, the Reds boss has called on his forwards to intensify their work-rate at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening.

Asked if Liverpool had become over-confident after beating City, Klopp said: “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.

“We need to find out whether it's a misjudgement of the City game. I don't think so. But if it was, that needs to be finished.”

Liverpool travel to Huddersfield aiming to open up a five-point gap on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who entertain Manchester United on Wednesday.

Klopp expects to choose from the same players available at the weekend, with Ragnar Klavan and Adam Lallana still sidelined.

Andy Robertson, Loris Karius and Joe Gomez are all vying for a recall after being benched against the Baggies, while Jordan Henderson could make make his first start of the year having impressed as a second-half substitute on his comeback from injury on Saturday.