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John Barnes explains why Klopp should not be blamed for Liverpool’s defensive deficiency

Liverpool legend John Barnes has said that manager Jurgen Klopp is not responsible for the defensive woes that are hampering the club at the moment.

The Reds played out to a disappointing 3-3 draw with Spanish club Sevilla on Tuesday. What made the result particularly disappointing was the fact that they led 3-0 at half-time and then ended up conceding three during the second half.

Many fans have pointed their fingers at Klopp, who has so far been unable to solve the defensive problems at the club since he took over two years ago.

Barnes has however defended the German manager, saying that there is just so much that he can do. He also added that the situation would have been different had the Reds top summer targets been bought.

“I think it’s down to a lot of individual errors and the way we defend as a team,” the Anfield hero told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. “We’re a very attacking team and Jurgen Klopp has got to get the balance right.

“When you look at the players he tried to get, Virgil van Dijk [who they failed to sign from Southampton] and Naby Keita [who will join the Reds next summer], it’s not just about our defence, it’s about the way we defend as a team. In midfield we haven’t got any real specialist defensive midfield player, and while Keita isn’t that exactly, he does defend well.

“Had those two players come in in the summer, it would have helped us defensively, and because we didn’t get those players, what people wanted to do is to go and spend £60million on a defensive midfielder and a another centre-back .


 
“But if he feels he is going to get those two players next year, why would he waste £60m or £70m just for the sake of it? We’re still four points off second-place! Jurgen knows we have a problem defensively, he knows what that problem is and he understands the problem and I’m sure he will rectify it.”