You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

It’s a problem Jurgen Klopp inherited but the harsh reality is that he’s no closer to finding a solution.

Liverpool’s shambolic defeat to Leicester City laid bare the defensive deficiencies which pre-dated the German’s arrival.

It’s a startling statistic that the Reds have let in 181 Premier League goals over the past four seasons. Only eight top-flight clubs have conceded more.

There have been times when Liverpool’s slick attacking play has served to paper over the cracks. Who needs to defend properly when you’re banging in four or five every week?

But that’s not sustainable and when the Reds have failed to fire going forward their weaknesses at the other end have been exposed.

An inability to do even the basics right has cost them dear. It comes down to personnel, organisation and attitude. Liverpool are falling short on all three fronts.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Dismal numbers

The Reds’ Premier League title challenge in 2013/14 ultimately floundered because they leaked 50 league goals. In Brendan Rodgers’ final full season at the helm that total dropped, but only marginally, to 48.

The 2015/16 campaign, which saw Klopp pick up the pieces after a dismal start, ended with the Reds having shipped another 50 league goals. With 33 conceded from 26 games so far this term, Klopp’s Liverpool are on course to reach that dreaded half century mark once again.

The Reds have conceded more goals than anyone else in the top eight of the Premier League this season and five more than a Middlesbrough side who are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

The faces have changed - both on the field and in the dugout - but the issues remain the same with Liverpool repeatedly punished for having a soft centre.

The truth is that Liverpool haven’t had a real defensive leader since Jamie Carragher retired in 2013. Carragher was part of Rafa Benitez’s side who conceded just 25 goals in 2006/07 - including just seven at Anfield all season.

How the current crop are crying out for that kind of vocal, commanding presence at the back. In the absence of captain Jordan Henderson, there was no leadership on display at the King Power Stadium. Faced with a combative opponent, Liverpool wilted. They got roughed up and bullied.

Rinse and repeat

Just look at the goals Leicester scored on Monday night.

They were gift-wrapped by Liverpool’s lack of organisation, lack of communication, lack of mental toughness and, most alarmingly, by the lack of a common sense tactical plan to keep the revitalised Foxes out.

The space the Reds’ high defensive line left behind them for Leicester to exploit was baffling. How could Liverpool be left dumbfounded by the hosts’ obvious route-one approach?

For the first goal, it was a simple pass through the middle for Jamie Vardy to run on to. The second was a sweet strike from Danny Drinkwater but James Milner’s defensive header was poor and the Reds were slow to react as nobody bothered closing him down.

The third? A cross from the left and Liverpool were found wanting aerially as Vardy’s header put the result beyond doubt. It was all far too easy and this time no accusing fingers could be pointed at Simon Mignolet. The keeper was let down by those in front of him and saved the Reds from a heavier defeat.

Lucas Leiva endured a torrid night but it wasn’t his fault that he was put in that position. Repeatedly leaving the experienced Brazilian midfielder turned defender in a foot race with Vardy was ludicrous.

Where was Joel Matip? The former Schalke centre-back is undoubtedly classy in possession but Liverpool need more from him than that. He’s too quiet. He should have been taking responsibility and easing the burden on Lucas.

It was reminiscent of how the Reds were humiliated by lowly Hull City three weeks earlier. Back then they were undone by a catalogue of errors when Alfred N’Diaye netted from a corner and then a ball in behind enabled Oumar Niasse to seal their fate.

How did fellow strugglers Swansea win at Anfield in January? Fernando Llorente scored from a corner and then punished slack marking to power home a header from a cross. Their winner was presented to Gylfi Sigurdsson by Ragnar Klavan’s blunder.

Sometimes when you get carved apart by attacking brilliance you have to hold your hands up, but that’s not been happening to Liverpool this season.

Estonia international Klavan remained on the bench throughout at the King Power Stadium and that’s part of the problem because Liverpool’s options at centre-back simply aren’t good enough. At one stage in the second half three of Liverpol’s back five were midfielders.

Off-loading Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure last summer was understandable, while the jettisoned Mamadou Sakho was his own worst enemy. But having planned for the future without them Liverpool didn’t strengthen their defensive ranks sufficiently.

Yes, the Reds missed Dejan Lovren against Leicester. Lovren and Matip are undoubtedly Klopp’s first choice pairing and have shown signs of promise together this season.

But both have had their injury problems and you can’t build a team around them. Lovren remains inconsistent and Klopp will have to spend big on a centre-back come the summer. A left-back is also a necessity.

Liverpool desperately require an injection of quality and steel. Monday was Groundhog Day for Kopites.

It’s about time that lessons were learned.