Jurgen Klopp insists signing one player will not solve defensive crisis

With Liverpool’s hopes of capturing a first league title since 1990 looking distant, the focus now turns to the English Football League Cup where the Merseysiders must overturn a one-goal deficit against Southampton in the semi-final second-leg to progress to February’s final at Wembley.

That’s not been the main issue this year though, conceding early goals due to poor defensive work has been the problem, but earlier in the campaign – under Francesco Guidolin – his high pressing style was too demanding for the squad’s lack of fitness, meaning they were vulnerable after the hour mark. Liverpool are yet to lose at home this season and will create plenty of chances against a Swansea side who have one of the worst defenses in the league. That’s still a good sign.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has repeatedly been linked with a move away from the Welsh club, snatched the victory in the 74th minute and Klopp had no answers to Paul Clement’s controlled and disciplined side.

The Spaniard is a reported target for Chelsea but after two goals in the shock 3-2 win at Liverpool, taking his tally to seven in the last 10 league games, Clement has no intention of letting him leave.

“It was important to know what Steven wants”.

“We spoke about the academy and that’s great”. “For us, 1-0 is no different to 0-0, there is still all to play for, everything is still possible”.

“For two weeks we’ve been moaning about “Oh he can’t play because he’s supposed to play at the Africa Cup of Nations” and all of a sudden he’s not starting the guy”. Very often the last mistake happens in this region, but that would be too easy. It was a big opportunity to take three points and we gave them the opportunity to win the game.

To play this system for the whole season and beyond, Liverpool needed more wingers, yet because of the attacking talent already at the club, it would have meant selling the likes of Daniel Sturridge, which would have been a harsh decision from Klopp going into his first full season as Liverpool boss.

Revealing the frank discussion ahead of a crunch week focused on boosting morale and restoring defensive focus, Klopp told the club’s official website: “The goals we have conceded in 2017 have been a little bit of the same story”. I knew about the problems we had after the Christmas period, but that was really disappointing and the Swansea game was not in these thoughts anymore. “I want to keep him here and the reason I want to keep him here is what he showed today”, he said.

This was the first of four games at Anfield in three separate competitions over the rest of the month that will do much to shape Liverpool’s season and both Klopp and his bench looked crestfallen.