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I don't even know where to start with Saturday. All over the pitch, things weren't going according to plan.

Don't get me wrong, fingers should be pointed at the defence, but the midfield needs looking at by Jurgen Klopp as well.

The balance is fine away from home, in games where we need to battle, but at Anfield against teams that we need to put to bed, it just doesn't gel.

It's this simple, for me. Adam Lallana needs to be playing in midfield, as the most advanced of the three, on that left-hand side. You think back to when we were putting four, five and six past teams, and he was in that central midfield role.

We had him, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in some brilliant form. We need to replicate that but there's just one problem – and he's over playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

With no Mane, it's an issue. Divock Origi's confidence is so low and he's playing so poorly, it's ridiculous. Can Daniel Sturridge play there? We just don't know. He popped up there against Swansea but he was coming too deep.

In fairness to Jurgen, maybe he thought he had players to cope with his absence in Origi and Sturridge. They're both quick, direct and have proven themselves in this league, so it wasn't a stretch thinking they could.

But for them two in particular right now, it's just not happening. You can't say they haven't had plenty of opportunities between them, but for whatever reason, it's not working out.

Daniel has played right side for both Bolton and Chelsea, so why not us? Luis Suarez used to play out there, and no matter where Sturridge is on the pitch, he should be the one who makes it work for us.

Fair enough, the pace that he had before his injury is lacking that extra half a yard, but his ability is obvious. The same goes for Origi, but it just isn't working for him right now, he hasn't been the same player since his injury in last season's Merseyside derby.

Then you look at what's in reserve. Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo both featured against Plymouth, but here's one for you – what about Trent Alexander-Arnold?

The lad is quick, has played in midfield at youth level and we need someone there with pace to stretch teams like Mane does. We aren't gifted with natural pace in the side and that's what is costing us.

It's not ideal, but why not throw Trent in there until Mane comes back?

This is a big problem for the manager, but Lallana can't be moved any more. I understand why he's going with tried and tested with Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum in midfield, but it's just not working and one of those should probably make way for Lallana dropping back.

It does also raise the question to me about the size of the squad too. Could we really afford to leave the team without a real Mane replacement? We knew he would be missing for a few months when we signed him, so I don't know.

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No defence without Matip

Well, it wasn't good against Swansea, but maybe we should have seen it coming.

Let's face it, it hasn't been good for some time, and it's just not clicking. There seemed to be no real urgency in the first half for whatever reason, so when we got ourselves back into it after the break, I thought 'get in, what a bonus, go on and win it now' – and then came the complete and utter lack of concentration at the back.

Look, it was always going to be a low-key affair, that's how early kick offs are at Anfield. It was so quiet to begin with. But then, we get it to 2-2 and everyone is right behind the team, thinking it will end up 3-2 or 4-2. How wrong we were.

You have to defend in this game, and you look at some of our results – this one and Bournemouth in particular – and it has truly been our undoing.

Our style of play will always leave us open a bit, but against Swansea, we looked vulnerable throughout. They hit the post with their only effort in the first half remember, and then it's three shots on target, three goals, in the second.

They were decent efforts but ultimately, it's really poor defending. Joel Matip could have been the difference there, and he has to start against Southampton. We needed his height on crosses and corners against Swansea.

For the first, Dejan Lovren gets caught under his man. For the second, it's a great ball and credit to Fernando Llorente for a good header, but if there's a bit of Matip's height in there, maybe he gets it away.

He's been a big player for us Matip and in every game we've lost this season, he's been missing from the starting line-up. That's no coincidence.

Thankfully the FIFA furore is all behind us now so let's hope he gets back and tightens up that defence. We need it.

(Image: 2017 Liverpool FC)

Wednesday is massive - and juggling the cups imperative

Wednesday is absolutely massive. It was before the Swansea game, but even more so now.

Manchester United will go through, there's no doubt in my mind, so you're playing for the chance to face them at Wembley in a final – something that would be fantastic to win.

But park that for just a minute and have a think about the Saints game. After what happened on Saturday, it would hurt to not go through.

It's a semi-final, at Anfield. It would sting like you wouldn't believe.

And listen, don't let people tell you this cup doesn't matter. It's more valuable than it was a few years ago. The way it is now, it's more like the FA Cup – they were worlds apart years ago but now, once you get to the quarter-finals, it's a real chance of a trophy.

Look at the sides still left. All Premier League. Chelsea wanted to win it, so did Arsenal. Yet here we are, on the doorstep of another Wembley final, we're desperate to get there and face United, so to go out at home would really hurt.

The players will want it badly enough, you fancy. I know this year hasn't been good to us so far but these players will want to make amends for that, and make amends to the fans as well after Saturday. That should be Jurgen's team talk sorted against Southampton, it should all be about pride.

They have to go out there and give everything, just like they did in the Europa League against United, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal.

Defending better wouldn't go amiss either, mind you. We can't afford to concede because we'll need three then. If we get a clean sheet, we'll go through – I'm sure of that.

They know they let themselves down and this is the perfect time to bounce back and get back on track.

That said, it's a real catch 22 situation against Wolves a few days later, isn't it?

On one hand, you can do without the FA Cup games in case they hamper our progress with the top four.

On the other, it's a cup competition, and one you want to be involved in. You might get past Wolves, draw Lincoln in the next round – no disrespect to them – and find yourself in the quarter-finals, one game from Wembley again.

I see why people want us to concentrate on the league and keep our top four push alive, but the chance to win another trophy? You can't pass it up. That's the way I see it.

The Chelsea game will loom and that's the biggie, we all know that. But we can still field a strong team against Wolves – you're looking at Sturridge, Origi and Matip all needing game time, then the likes of Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva, Alexander-Arnold and a few other kids. Don't forget young Joe Gomez, he's a smashing player.

There's a team worthy of disposing of Wolves, while not putting the Chelsea game in unnecessary danger. That's how it should be.

Congratulations Wayne Rooney

I would just like to give a huge, massive, heartfelt congratulations to top Scouser Wayne Rooney for being top of the scoring pops at a Manchester club.

Manchester United fans like to sing all the songs they can about people from this city, so maybe next time they do, they can take a look on the pitch and realise their greatest ever goalscorer is from Liverpool. A Scouser!

I've also had some stick from various fans, whose clubs I won't name, about Liverpool going long ball against Swansea – especially after my comments last week about United and Marouane Fellaini.

Fair enough but don't forget, we put Matip on with two minutes to go, but that's alright in my book. Loads of clubs do it, not least us with Martin Skrtel back in the day, when a centre back comes on as a centre forward. Remember Steven Caulker as well?

That's for two minutes, not 22 minutes, like United did at Old Trafford last week. It's a move you make in desperation. Desperation.