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This week's View from the Kop comes from Carl Clemente from 5times.

Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup - how disappointed were you with the game?

As a Liverpool supporter, I’m always disappointed when the team loses, regardless of the importance of the competition.

However, I wasn’t as upset as I was following the three previous games against Manchester City and Burnley in the League and Seville in our Champions League group opener.

These are the competitions I want Liverpool to be progressing in; hence why I didn’t lose much sleep over been eliminating from the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Gone are the days where teams play their strongest eleven week in week out. Therefore, I could tell from Klopp’s team selection how much he values the League Cup - which is probably as much as I do.

Nevertheless, I always want whichever team is selected to perform well and give their absolute all for the shirt, which clearly didn’t happen the other night.

At the end of the day, the Carabao Cup was a chance of winning silverware, which has unfortunately gone begging at the first hurdle. I now look forward to seeing Klopp and his team ironing out our current problems on the pitch, in order for us to move forward and challenge for the other major honours we are still involved in.

Liverpool are missing chances at one end while conceding at the other. Which element do you have most concern over?



I don't believe the attack is a problem - as long as Liverpool keep creating chances, the end product will finally come.

Undoubtedly, what does concern me is not only the back line, but also the protection it is given by the midfield.

It's easy to point the finger at the defenders for conceding goals, and don't get me wrong, many of these goals have been down to defensive frailties.

However, I don't think our midfield is strong enough and our midfielders need to start winning back the ball more further up the field - to prevent the defence from being put under constant pressure.

Obviously, the solution to this would be Naby Keita, but there are a lot more games to be played before his arrival and a solution needs to be found now.

I strongly believe two men need to sit in deep to project our vulnerable defence. When Keita comes in he would be able to do the role of two players - however, at the moment we don't have a player of such quality, so the midfield has to do a better job of keeping the ball, winning it back and ultimately avoid exposing the defence.

Moreover, there's too much chop and change at the back for my liking. The full-backs are completely new this season and Klopp can't decide on his best centre-back pairing. This means that there is no stability, which can ultimately be linked to confidence.

Until the opportunity arises to upgrade personnel during the forthcoming transfer windows - injuries permitted, a regular back-four, playing every game together would be a bit part solution to our defensive woes.

There were eight changes to the team at Leicester. Did you agree with the decision to get game time into the fringe players? Any positives?

The fringe players are there in order to push the regular starters, keep them on their toes so they don't relax.

Although, their abilities and attitude can be shown during every training session at Melwood, their motivation and hard work has to be praised and rewarded with game time.

If these players aren't given minutes during the first rounds of the League Cup then what would motivate them to carry on pushing the starting eleven for their places?

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

If they don't play in this competition then mentally they will know they have no chance of starting in the Premier League or Champions League and perhaps would cause demotivation amongst a few players.

In addition, If Klopp would have started his strongest eleven against Leicester and someone had picked up an injury, then fans would have asked questions - why players were unnecessary being risk in the league cup and consequently are no longer available for important League and European games.

Regarding, positives – Andy Robertson simply has to play every game from now on. He is far better defensively than Alberto Moreno and he showed us on Tuesday that his crossing abilities are second to none. He is a proven Premier League left-back and by far was Hull’s best player last season. I’m not sure why he still isn’t, but Robertson needs to become Liverpool first choice left-back.

Are you worried about the lack of game time to develop some of the squad players now we're out of the tournament?

Not really, because if some players are only deemed good enough to play in the League Cup then they shouldn't be in the squad at all. All players should be looking to start for Liverpool no matter what the competition is.

"As mentioned, if players put in the hard work on the training field, then they will always be in contention to play for the first team. In addition, they also have to opportunity to play for the Under-23.

Saying this though, I’m not that convinced players can progress and develop as much as they could have in the old reserves system.

I believe, if youngsters and fringe players who may need some time to adapt to the English game, have the opportunity to come up against men on a regular basis, which would include first team players, coming back from injury, then they would be far more likely improve and develop into better players.

It's more of a realistic footballing environment for players to flourish in – from the training ground to the dressing room and then onto the pitch itself. How many Liverpool legends over the years have we seen go on to win Leagues and European Cups who went through the reserve system? Some were stuck in there for years as Joe Fagan, Ronnie Moran, Roy Evans and Phil Thompson prepared them for the big time.

There was lots of criticism of Jurgen Klopp on social media. Deserved?

I think everyone should take the majority of what they read on social media with a pinch of salt. Albeit, it is frustrating and at times is something that I get drawn into myself.

I believe fans are entitled to have their say, as at the end of the day, most only want the best for Liverpool Football Club.

However, on the other hand it's infuriating reading comments from 'so called' fans who are constantly slaughtering and insulting the players and the manager when results haven't gone our way - and by the way, it’s the same fans who are delighted with the team after a victory.

It's football and no team wins every week and has perfect players in every position of the pitch, but we are the club’s supporters and we are obliged to show our support to the team through thick and thin and not just them things are going well.

Yes, we have had a few bad results over late and it's a frustrating time fans and these days social media the preferred tool used to release this frustration.

Don't get me wrong, there are many fans out there that have interesting and valid views, but the ones who are saying that our season is over in September and want rid of Klopp are utterly ridiculous.



Where do we go from here? We are back to Leicester. How do Liverpool respond?

Ideally, we go back to Leicester with our strongest team, beat them and bring home three points! However, that's easier said than done as Leicester will be also strengthening. Moreover, Leicester are proving a tricky side for Klopp as he has suffered three straight defeats at there since arriving in 2015. But I’m sure he'll be keen put that right tomorrow afternoon!

From yesterday's press conference, tomorrow’s defence could be your guess as good as mine and as I've said it’s going to be paramount that the defence receives more cover from midfield.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Furthermore, I’m expecting a top class performance from our captain Jordan Henderson today - he certainly owes us one! He needs to step up a level and start to take control of the midfield a lot more, showing more of his leadership skills on the field.

All in all, it’s a massive game on Saturday and one that I'm really looking forward to, as victory would be the perfect way to put an end to the constant over-exaggerating criticism Klopp and his team have received over late.



Overall how do you view things at the club at the moment?



It has been a stop-start opening to the new campaign for Jürgen Klopp’s side. The past four mediocre performances have put matters into perspective and improvements need to be made if Liverpool are to kick-start their season again.

Klopp urgently needs to pinpoint what’s going wrong and act upon it immediately. Improvements in personnel are now out of the question. Therefore, it’s now solely down to hard work on the training pitches at Melwood to try and solve the persistent problems that are consistently occurring on the field of play.

The reality is that Liverpool fans have to continue to have patience and believe in Klopp and his players. Klopp is visibly building something special after Brendan Rodgers’ unsuccessful team at the club.

Naby Keita – one of world’s most promising midfield players will be soon on the ranks and at some point in the near future the defence will be considerably strengthened.

Nevertheless, patience is something that Liverpool fans are slowly running out of – as ultimately they want to see their team back challenging for the major honours, both domestically and in Europe.