'We must continue to improve defensively'
Martin Skrtel admitted his satisfaction at a fourth clean sheet of the season against Sunderland on Saturday - but insisted he would gladly have traded the shut-out for a third successive victory.
Having clinched back-to-back wins against Stoke City and Leicester City, the Reds welcomed Gustavo Poyet's side to Anfield hoping to extend their recent run of Barclays Premier League triumphs.
However, the visitors were obstinate, denying Brendan Rodgers' charges a route to goal, especially during the second half, when the home team attacked the Kop in search of three points.
No breakthrough materialised; however, at the other end of the field, Skrtel and Kolo Toure, flanked by Glen Johnson and Alberto Moreno, helped Simon Mignolet keep the Black Cats at bay.
Reflecting on the game, Skrtel told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was disappointing because after the last two games, where we got two wins, we wanted to carry on [winning], but unfortunately we couldn't get the three points.
"We didn't start the season well, but after the Ludogorets game our confidence went up because of the performance and then to get two wins in our last two games were great results for us.
"So that's what we were thinking before the game. We wanted to win, but we couldn't get the three points.
"When you don't concede a goal, it's good for the goalkeeper and the back four, but as I've said in the past, defending isn't only about the back four and the 'keeper, it's about defending as a team. We go forward as a team as well.
"I think we've improved our defending and that's why we didn't concede a goal. But I would have preferred to have conceded a goal and got the three points."
Next up for the Reds is a crucial Champions League clash with FC Basel at Anfield, in a game that the home side must win to secure qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Skrtel, who has experienced his share of high-profile encounters under the floodlights in L4, insists he's determined to play a part defensively to ensure that his side can continue to progress in the competition.
"You could say that it's one of the most important games this year," said Skrtel. "We need to win and we'll do everything on the pitch in order to get the result.
"It's going to be about our attacking and going forward, but we can't forget about the defending. That's our job as defenders, so we'll try to help the team and get a clean sheet once again.
"If we don't win, we won't go through to the next round of the Champions League. That's what we want and we'll do everything to get it."