Jürgen Klopp blamed a dry pitch for Liverpool’s laboured performance against Southampton while James Milner insisted their latest blank against Claude Puel’s team was his responsibility.

Milner had a second-half penalty saved by the England international Fraser Forster as Liverpool failed to score against Southampton for the fourth time this season. Klopp’s side have taken only two points from their last three games at Anfield, in contrast to three consecutive wins on the road, with their recent home form stalling the pursuit of Champions League qualification.

The Liverpool manager denied his team have a psychological issue on home soil but claimed their problems against Southampton stemmed from the state of the Anfield pitch, its dry condition undermining their passing game.

James Milner penalty miss costs Liverpool in Southampton stalemate Read more

Klopp, who claimed the wind was a factor in Liverpool’s EFL Cup defeat by Southampton in January, said: “It is not what I want. To be successful you have to have a fortress at home. That is very important. We had that here for a long period. Now we have had a few results which are not that good.

“I know nobody wants to hear it but I am brave enough to say it. The pitch was really dry today. We gave it all the water we had but after 15 minutes it was really dry again with the wind. It was difficult. You could see it … a lot passes you thought ‘why are they playing this?’ But it was difficult. In a possession game you need to have the best circumstances, if possible, in a home game especially, but today we couldn’t have this. That is nobody’s fault; it is only a description.

“It is not nice to drop points at home but now we play away and then we have another home game. We really still enjoy playing at home. It is only a mental issue if you think it is one. We don’t see this. The boys like it here, they like playing in front of their crowd. That is all. Today the atmosphere was really good. People were really in the game. Everybody tried everything and it didn’t work out finally.”

Milner had a 100% penalty record this season before Forster saved the converted left-back’s eighth spot-kick of the campaign, the keeper making his first penalty save in the Premier League after interrupting his opponents’ preparations.

“It’s very frustrating,” Milner said. “Obviously the penalty is my fault and the fact we didn’t get three points is definitely my fault. I have to live with that. Fraser is a top keeper. You have to take those chances. I’ve been around long enough to make sure that doesn’t worry me. I can’t do any more than hold my hands up. Southampton are a tough team to break down.

“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked. The penalty was a big chance and we didn’t take it. We have to win our remaining two games [to be sure now of a top-four finish].”