Klopp To Start With Building Liverpool's Defence

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's disastrous performance at the Liberty Stadium, Jürgen Klopp has pinpointed Liverpool's defense as the first step to building this team up for next season. After losing to Swansea City 3-1, each goal softer than the last, it is doubtful that the German will be thinking anything different.

"When you build up a team, you start with the defence - that's how it is," said Klopp.

"It keeps you in the game and gives you the opportunity to score once and win the game. I'm never happy with conceding goals, to be honest.

"It's clear it's how we build up a team and that's one of the biggest targets for the next season - not for the rest of this season but for next season and then to build up a stability in this part of the game."

Many will interpret these comments as clear evidence of Liverpool's transfer plans for the Summer, mainly because he uses that key word target. While that is a distinct possibility, it should be underscored that at no point does Liverpool's manager mention transfer targets, and the next thing he said was about improvements made on the training ground.

"We had different problems in this and we solved a lot of them already. Set-pieces were the worst, to be honest. It's a part of the game where we needed to improve and we did."

While set piece improvement has come, in general, over the last couple of months, Liverpool's display today demonstrates there is still considerable improvement left to go. That could mean Joel Matip won't be the only defender to come in this Summer.

Liverpool could use a further hedge on Jon Flanagan's knees, Simon Mignolet's bouts with wretched form are as worrying as ever. And, of course, the never ending questions regarding the centerback position group. Kolo Toure's not getting any younger, Mamadou Sakho's not getting any less suspended, and Martin Skrtel is continually penciled in as for the out column.

Whatever you do, Kloppo, do it before Thursday. Because what Liverpool's much changed lineup just put on film today against the Swans isn't going to cut it in the Championship, let alone the Europa League.