Jurgen Klopp has told his team that “football has not turned into rocket science overnight”, but is about the basics they seem to have forgotten.
And he has warned his beleaguered Liverpool side the time for ‘crisis talks’ is over, and now the time to deliver with performances not words has arrived.
The Reds boss couldn’t hide his frustration with the inconsistency of this desperate campaign - and he said: “It’s about basics. It is not rocket science or has not turned into rocket science overnight. Yes. Yes, it is right. Football is based on basics, definitely, and yes I was not happy with it but I said that directly after the (City) game.
“We did not tackle (against City). First goal, a pass to the outside and no challenge. The third goal is four or five versus one and then a pass arrives still in the box. That is not possible. We have to make sure we have a completely different approach to challenges, that is 100 per cent true.”
Klopp joked that in a similar situation when boss at Dortmund, his team finally turned it around, only after he announced he was leaving at the end of the season, but swiftly added: “That is not my plan (now).
Instead, he will sweep aside all the inquests and frank team meetings, and instead demand his players show their reaction with real action at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Tuesday evening.
"You have so many meetings. We have so many meetings but it is not about talking anymore but delivering, it is about doing,” he said.
"That is what the message is actually. Over the season we spoke about everything pretty much 100 per cent on one specific point, just because on the table it is clear, you have to. You cannot just close your eyes and hope it gets better.
“But It is up to us to deliver. In moments you have to talk but I don’t think there is anyone there really who can explain the drop [in level] between the two halves (at City). They know what happened, so we have to change it.”
And there will be changes, with Klopp promising to shake up his under-confident team, though he revealed the visit to Chelsea has come too early for Luis Diaz and Thiago, who are back training with the first team after injury.
