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Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne knows the Reds owe boss Jurgen Klopp 'a big performance' when they host Spurs on Saturday.

In a candid interview with the Liverpool Echo, Clyne has opened up on the club's slump in form and says issues have been addressed on the training field following last week's defeat at Hull.

“We know that we owe the manager and the fans a big performance,” Clyne said.

“It wasn’t good enough against Hull and there has to be a response. The fans will be up for it and we need to give them a boost.

“We haven’t won at home for a while and we have got to put that right. It won’t be easy because Tottenham are a very good side. But we've got the ability to beat them.

“We’ve proved we can beat anyone in this league this season and we need to get back on track.”

(Image: Stu Forster)

Jurgen Klopp was raging after the Reds’ error-strewn display at the KCOM Stadium but the England international insists the players didn’t need telling that they had let themselves down.

“I wouldn’t say it was the angriest I’ve seen him but he was certainly passionate,” Clyne said.

“Like all of us, he was hurting from us losing the game.

“He wants to win, we all want to win, and that wasn’t good enough. That’s the kind of game we should be winning.”

It was the latest in a growing line of damaging setbacks since the turn of the year. Liverpool have won just once in 10 matches and taken just three points out of a possible 15 in the league.

As a result they have tumbled out of both cups and slipped to fifth place in the Premier League. The big question is why?

“It’s difficult to put your finger on it,” he said.

(Image: John Powell)

“It’s been up and down for us. In the first half of the season we were flying. We were creating a lot of chances and scoring a lot of goals. Come the start of this year we hit a bad patch.

“I don’t think we can use fatigue as an excuse. Other clubs have played the same number of games as us. We just haven’t been performing at the same level as we did earlier in the season.

“In a lot of games teams have sat deep and made it very difficult for us to break them down. They play counter-attack football - trying to restrict our strengths and target any weaknesses.

“But teams also sat back against us earlier in the season. The difference then was that we were firing on all cylinders and the goals were being shared around.

“Confidence is bound to be a factor when you’re losing games but we all still believe in each other and we believe in the manager.”

The defeat to Hull arrived just four days after Liverpool had forced a gutsy 1-1 draw with leaders Chelsea. Klopp’s men are unbeaten in their matches against clubs in the top six this term but have lost to Burnley, Bournemouth, Swansea and Hull.

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One criticism that’s been levelled at the Reds is that there’s an attitude problem when they come up against the Premier League’s lesser lights.

“I think what that record shows is that you have to be at 100% in every single game,” Clyne said.

“If your levels drop in the Premier League you run the risk of getting turned over. Every game is tough. You have to stay focused and keep a winning mentality.

“Against the big teams we’ve been right up for it but you have to have that same attitude and approach every week. Hull have to be treated like they are Chelsea.

“It’s been a difficult time but the spirit is still good and we’re all working together as a team to get back to where we were.”

Clyne suffered an abdominal muscle injury last month and was forced to sit out matches against Manchester United and Southampton. On other occasions he battled through the pain barrier but he’s now fully recovered.

“I tore a muscle in between my ribs,” he revealed.

(Image: Liverpool FC/Getty Images)

“I got a kick and it was very painful when I tried to run. Everyone knows I don’t like missing games. If I’ve got a knock or a strain I’ll play with it because I enjoy playing so much and want to contribute so sitting out a few games was tough.”

Since the squad reconvened at Melwood on Tuesday Clyne says Klopp’s message has been to look forward rather than back.

Despite the torrent of criticism, the Reds stand just a point adrift of the Champions League spots and the former Saints defender remains bullish about their chances of a top-four finish as they prepare to face Mauricio Pochettino’s in-form side.

“We’ve put what happened against Hull to bed,” he added.

“We can’t dwell on that any longer. Now it’s about what we’ve got coming up.

“We’ve worked on a lot of things this week - set-pieces, defending as a team and also our movements when we attack. It’s been about what we need to do as a team to get the three points.

“We’ve got 14 games to go and there’s a lot to play for. I still believe we’ve got the quality to finish in that top four.”

(Image: Liverpool FC)

To achieve that Liverpool must rise to the occasion against second placed Spurs, who are unbeaten in 11 matches. Clyne knows all about the threat posed by the England duo of Harry Kane and Deli Alli.

“They’re doing the business at the top end for Tottenham and scoring a lot of goals,” Clyne said.

“If we keep them quiet then we’ll have a real possibility of getting a positive result.

“Spurs picked up where they left off last season. They are a top side with quality all over the pitch.

“But we’ll take confidence from the draw at White Hart Lane earlier this season. We were the better team and cruising before they equalised.

“Beating Spurs would definitely change the mood - we’d only be one point behind them. We know how important this game is.”

Nathaniel Clyne was at Kirkby High School supporting the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country – the PlayStation Schools’ Cup. Since its launch over 150,000 players have been involved. Clyne met youngsters from both teams before Kirkby High School beat local rivals All Saints Catholic High School 6-2 in the Year 7 fixture.

For more details visit: www.playstationschoolscup.com