Jason McAteer believes Liverpool should be cut some slack in the Champions League as it is their first season back in the elite competition.
Liverpool raced to a 3-0 lead away at Sevilla in the first half on Tuesday night to put themselves firmly on course to book qualification from their group with a game to spare.
But the Reds' defensive weakness again cropped up as they conceded three goals in the second half to leave Spain with a 3-3 draw which means they still have work to do in their final group game.
Liverpool are being fiercely criticised for letting slip a three-goal lead, but McAteer thinks Jurgen Klopp's men should be cut some slack.
"It's the first season back in the Champions League, a lot of players might not have played in it", McAteer said on LFC TV.
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"It's a learning curve, you come up against different opponents. You've got to give them that.
"So, we're OK. We're still in the driving seat [in the group]."
Liverpool's failure to address their defensive issues during Klopp's reign has been a source of much criticism this season.
The German boss however has insisted that he has no quality issues regarding his defenders and Klopp will want his men to put in a solid display against Chelsea at the weekend.
