Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says their early season problems have been due to their defending.

Klopp concedes they've allowed standards to slip.

"When I first arrived at Liverpool almost seven years ago, I set an ambition for us to become the hardest team in the world to play against," he says. "This hasn't always been possible of course – although there have definitely been times when we have been pretty close, I would say. But in Naples we were as far away from this target as I can recall us being and this cannot carry on.

"I know everyone focuses on the goals, the stories and the big moments, but being hard to play against and hard to beat has been at the heart of everything we have done over the last few seasons, so it would make sense if we could get back to being this way."

Speaking to the official matchday programme, Klopp added: "The basics of football are a big part of this. Defending together, attacking together, winning challenges, competing, stopping your opponent from doing what they want to do. A lot of these qualities would not get their own showreel but they are absolutely vital if you want to win football matches.

"The boys have been absolutely brilliant at this and that should not be forgotten, but at the same time we have to acknowledge that right now there is room for improvement."