Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appeared to hit out at his Reds stars for ignoring his instructions as their stuttering start to the season continued against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The Merseyside outfit looked en route to victory against Brighton on Saturday afternoon having come from 2-0 down at Anfield to lead. However, Leandro Trossard scored late on to deny the hosts three points and with it, the Belgian winger secured the matchball courtesy of a lethal treble.
The draw leaves Liverpool in ninth in the Premier League table with just ten points from their opening seven games of the season. Klopp has long been searching for solutions for the Reds inconsistent form this season and suggested that the messages are simply not getting through to his squad.
Speaking after the full-time whistle at Anfield, he said: "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 impact on 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.
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"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."
The showdown with Brighton was certainly a topsy-turvy affair and one that saw Liverpool’s mental resolve tested on a number of occasions.
Klopp further claimed that the confidence on Merseyside is a far cry from what it was when the Reds lifted the Premier League title under his stewardship - but did offer praise to Brighton who put on a show at Anfield on Roberto de Zerbi’s debut for the club.
The German schemer continued: "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.”
