Klopp backs his flagging Reds to respond

Jan 26, 2017 - 3:52 PM Juergen Klopp has backed his struggling Liverpool players to respond to adversity by getting their season back on track.

A 2-0 aggregate defeat to Southampton in the last-four of the EFL Cup saw hopes of a third final in the German's 15-month reign slip through their fingers on Wednesday.

For the third time in under three months, Saints kept a clean sheet against what used to be a free-scoring side which are now experiencing their worst start to a calendar year since 1993.

Klopp, in his programme notes, wrote: "It is in moments such as these, with the focus being on us to see how we react to setbacks, where I believe these players will show their very best qualities."

That seems even more pertinent now as the pervading mood around Anfield is one of despondency, having seen the side fall from top of the Premier League in November.

Klopp was asked whether the defeat to Southampton, coming just four days after struggling Swansea's shock win at Anfield, could derail his players further.

"If we would doubt the way we are after these little, little problems we've had now, it would really be a strange thing," he said.

"We don't have the points we want.That's not the problem - that's how it is.

"We know what we want to do, we know what we have to do and we know about the football we want to play, so that's all good."

Klopp, whose side face Wolves in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, insists the squad have the qualities to counteract opponents' stone-walling tactics which have sent the Reds' season into a tailspin.

"We are not the only team in the world that has to do this," Klopp said after a third loss in five matches.

"Not every team is playing like this (against Liverpool) but quite a lot - 70, 80 per cent of the games are like this.

"We knew it before so it's not a problem but we still adapt to it, 100 per cent.

"You have to score in this or that situation then the game changes a little bit, not against each team, but a few teams are happy with only being 1-0 down or whatever.

"We don't have to think about this. It's the most difficult thing in football but we are not the only team who has to accept this.

"We are a good football-playing side."

Source: AAP