Rodgers: Defensive record must improve
Brendan Rodgers today pledged that Liverpool will work hard to strengthen their defensive decisiveness - but stressed a collective effort is required.
The Reds have kept just one clean sheet so far this season - in a 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on August 31 - and have conceded 19 goals in 12 matches.
Rodgers acknowledges the need for his team to firm up at the back, and admits he was left disappointed by the manner of two of the strikes let in during Wednesday's 3-0 reversal to Real Madrid.
"It needs to be better, that's for sure - as a team, not just the defence and goalkeeper," the boss told journalists at Melwood. "As a team we need to be better.
"We all pride ourselves on clean sheets but we need to more competitive and aggressive in those moments as a team.
"That was the disappointment last night and also in the goals we've conceded, as a large number of them have been soft.
"It's our job to improve our record and it's something we'll continue to work on."
While few could argue with Cristiano Ronaldo's opening goal during the Champions League Group B defeat by Madrid, Rodgers felt Liverpool could have made life much more difficult for Karim Benzema.
The French striker looped a back-post header home to double the La Liga side's advantage before adding a third by tapping in following a goalmouth scramble at a corner.
"We need to work harder and make it better," continued Rodgers. "Last night, there were two soft goals in the first phase and second phase of those set-pieces.
"There hasn't been a corner with a clever move that has beaten us - it's been a simple ball into the box and we haven't defended it through either the first contact or by letting people come across us.
"We need to reinforce key principles in that organisation and then it's you as a player on the field showing that competitive spirit. The great competitors don't get done so easily in those situations and that's something we need to improve upon.
"The goals in those moments were soft and we have to be better, so it's something we have to work on."
All three goals came before the half-time whistle at Anfield and though Liverpool were unable to stage a remarkable comeback, Rodgers was pleased with the application of his players after the break.
"I gave huge respect and credit to the players last night because Real Madrid are a team who have gotten into the last three Champions League semi-finals and obviously won it last year," he explained.
"We witnessed what they did to Bayern Munich over two legs [last season]. Bayern are a top team and were then the current champions.
"At 3-0 at half-time, you're certainly playing for pride, but we're also about performance and going into the second half, it was about controlling and dominating the ball a bit more while also being more aggressive in our actions defensively.
"The players responded magnificently in the second half. We had a spell of 20 minutes leading into half-time in which we defended poorly and they have got top, world-class players that were very, very effective.
"It was a huge credit to my players that they kept going right until the very end. Their efforts and commitment in the game were first-class, but that period before half-time cost us."