Hull for KLOPP JURGEN: WE’RE CREATING OUR OWN PROBLEMS

JURGEN KLOPP said criticism of his players’ attitude was justified as they crashed again to one of the Premier League’s smaller teams.

The German was at a loss to explain why the Reds can produce against their rivals at the top of the table but come unstuck against those fighting at the bottom.

So far this season Liverpool have remained unbeaten against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United.

But they have slipped to defeat at Burnley, Bournemouth and, yesterday at the KCom Stadium as the Tigers bared their teeth with a truly gutsy display.

Asked if he thought there was an underlying issue with his players’ mindset he said: “I know what you are saying. We have to look at this.

“You can have that view from the outside. I don’t want to give that answer now. But it looks like that – yes.

“I can understand why you ask that if we have the record we have against these teams and another record against the others.But I know these boys. I see them every day. They don’t show this during the week.

“We are producing our own problems. My mistake, our mistakes. But in a few days we have another opportunity to play and we need to show we are ready.

“If we could play our best against Spurs next Saturday then prove the rest of it later in the season – that would be the best thing.”

Defeat left Klopp’s men trailing 13 points behind leaders Chelsea. Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolves and losing in the EFL Cup semi-final to Southampton, all that is left is a challenge to secure a top-four spot.

Klopp tried to talk it up despite the fact that his campaign is fast disintegrating.

He said: “I don’t want to use it as an excuse. But you could say: ‘OK, we are not going to be champions,’ but the Champions League is an outstanding, big, big target. Fantastic.

“So many teams want to play there so to qualify for the Champions League in England is difficult because there are so many challenges.

“But this is not my biggest problem. I want to play much better football with my team. It’s not about what you should reach in a season.

“We have shown it a few times. But obviously, it’s a long time ago since we showed it consistently and that is what we have to change.”

Klopp was unable to take much from this defeat. Simon Mignolet ( below) was again at fault for Hull’s opener by debutant Alfred N’Diaye and the defence was carved open way too easily for the second scored late on by sub Oumar Niasse.

Klopp added: “We gave easy goals away. We didn’t play the first half as we should – especially when you see how we played in the second.

“If we had played like this from the beginning it would have been more difficult for Hull to cope. We gave the first half away and put ourselves under pressure. In the second, we had chances but we came up against good saves and Hull’s passionate defending and we gave another easy goal away.

“We have to take all the criticism. You are allowed a positive outlook – that we are still fourth in the league – but after a game like this you can’t say anything.”