Jurgen Klopp compares Liverpool to a ‘flower’ after throwing away win against Brighton

Jurgen Klopp will want huge improvements from his side (Image: GETTY)

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has described his squad’s current confident levels as being like a delicate “flower” following their dramatic 3-3 draw with Brighton. The Reds continued their poor form with a sluggish start against Brighton before coming back from two goals down to take a winning position.

But lazy defending cost them once more as Liverpool were forced to walk away with just a single point. They’re now behind the likes of Newcastle and Fulham in the Premier League table and in need of turning things around quickly.

Confidence is clearly low in Klopp’s side and the Liverpool boss claims the morale among the group has been ‘stamped on’. He said: “This game has different stories. There is the story of how we conceded two early goals, there is the story of how we came back in the game, then there is the story of how we threw it away.

“Brighton are a really good football team and a real team. It was a different formation, we were surprised a little bit? Yes a little. But we were already 2-0 down when we adapted from that. We scored our goals which were the counter-attacks. We could have won but would we have deserved to win? I’m actually not sure. Brighton deserved something.

“With all the good things we did during the week the confidence is a little flower and when someone stamps on it, it is really difficult. We have to accept it. Of course it is not enough for us but it is what we got. I spoke to the boys in a similar way to how I speak to you. I don’t know how many times I have to say we need a reaction. The first goal has an impac ton both teams. They were flying and we were somewhere in between. They used that for the second goal.

“We could have defended much better. It’s football and you have to accept it. On a day like this when it starts like this, it’s important to fight your way through. It would be nice if you could win it. We always have problems against Brighton who are a very good football team but we have to do better. I know we have 10 points and that’s the reality. I don’t hide from that. We have to go together and build.”

Liverpool came into the game against Brighton in need of kickstarting their season having won just two of their opening six league games. Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were only named on the bench having arrived back later than others from international duty.

DON’T MISS

Liverpool had fought back from two goals down (Image: GETTY)

But it was still a strong starting line-up for Klopp with arguably his three favoured midfielders starting together for just the second time this season. However, the Reds were caught napping in the early exchanges as Leandro Trossard scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes.

Liverpool were at risk of going further behind if it wasn’t for some key saves from Alisson as well. They managed to stem the goals eventually with Roberto Firmino cutting the deficit in half before the break.

The Reds then came out the better of the two sides in the second half and were soon level when Firmino neatly finished inside the box. And they completed the turnaround after Adam Webster could do nothing to prevent a corner from bouncing off him and into his own net.

There was to be another twist in the tail before the end though as Trossard completed his hat-trick with a smashing effort inside the box. Liverpool are now 11 points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table and in desperate need of turning things around to keep tabs with those inside the top four.