Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton believes there must be a realistic tone struck about the Reds' defence, which he feels is not showing the form required for a side that want to challenge at the top end of the Premier League.

Liverpool turned in a poor defensive display away at Watford in their opening game of the season and let in three goals in a 3-3 draw.




They were again defensively weak on Saturday when Manchester City scored five without reply; Liverpool had been reduced to ten men following the sending off of Sadio Mane, but still crumbled easily at the Etihad Stadium.

Houghton thinks mistakes are being made defensively and Liverpool must acknowledge there is an issue.
 


The Liverpool legend said on LFC TV: "If you're going to win the league or have a successful season, two away games in the league so far and you've conceded eight, you're not going to do it like that.

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"You can close your eyes to it and say there isn't a problem, if you want to, you're more than capable of doing that.

"But if you want to be a realist, live in the real world and you want to improve, you've got to look at the reasons why you're conceding these goals", Houghton added.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp chose not to sign a centre-back in the summer transfer window and only added left-back Andrew Robertson to his defensive options.

The German fielded Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip at centre-back, and Alberto Moreno at left-back against the Citizens.

Following the closure of the summer window, Klopp has now had four transfer windows as Liverpool boss.