KOP BOSS BACKS NEW GAME PLAN

JURGEN KLOPP believes a more mature Liverpool have laid the defensive foundations for success.

Klopp revealed Liverpool have made a conscious effort to stop teams from playing and to avoid going gung-ho when they are in the lead.

It has resulted in Liverpool securing five clean sheets for keeper Alisson (left), having conceded just three goals in the Premier League.

Only Leicester’s Rachid Ghezzal, Tottenham’s Erik Lamela and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard have found a way past Alisson in the league so far.

Liverpool, who only trail leaders Manchester City and Chelsea on goal difference, may not be as free-flowing so far in attack but they are able to keep pace in the title race because of their newfound defensive prowess.

“It’s a normal period of adaptation,” said Klopp.

“You put the focus a bit more on something and immediately you lose a bit of the fluency in something else. We have already had good results and scored goals but it’s obvious that we can improve.

“But we need to keep the stability, no doubt about that. What we’ve done defensively so far is credit to the whole team.

“That first part of the season is the basis for the rest of the season, so let’s use it. We are growing as a team in a specific way and hopefully we can use that.”

Kop boss Klopp has even tailored his pressing game as he continues to make his team more adaptable to the different demands in England.

“It’s not been a proper plan to sit back a little bit, but we did it after being 1-0 or 2-0 up in games,” added the German.

“It’s a question of maturity and that makes absolute sense.

“With the number of games we have, it’s not about chasing a game always like crazy. You have to be smart. We try to be that without killing our nature.”