Klopp sends message to Liverpool stars after "problem" defending vs Brentford

Jurgen Klopp has sent his Liverpool stars a message after their "problem" defending against Brentford on Saturday.

The Red drew 3-3 in London, conceding triple the amount of goals they had shipped in their first five Premier League matches.

Even the dependable Virgil van Dijk came in for criticism and Klopp has demanded a reaction from his players as they prepare to face Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday, as they aim to make it two wins from two games in Group B.

"It's not that much of a concern, but we have to show a reaction," he said.

"It's tricky to win a game when you aren't defending on your highest level and that's what we didn't do. It wasn't just the last line, in general we had problem with defending."

Klopp has demanded a reaction from Liverpool ( Image:

GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Klopp added: "Porto is a different team but we have to improve in that department. We spoke about it and know we cannot do it like that [defend] and we sorted that and have to show that tomorrow."

Group B contains Liverpool, Porto, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan, who the Reds beat 3-2 at Anfield last week.

The German is more than aware of the quality in the group, insisting their opponents are not to be taken lightly despite being favourites to finish bottom.

"We don't count on points we don't have already, it's a tough group so we should not waste time to get points," Klopp claimed. "Atletico v Porto was a tough one and if someone deserved to win it, it was Porto, so that says a lot."

Should Klopp change his defence for the Porto match? Give us your verdict here.

The Reds have faced Sergio Conceicao's side - who made the quarter-finals last year - in three of the last four Champions League campaigns and have recorded three wins and one draw.

Both away matches have been an aggregate score of 9-1, but Klopp is not banking on anything for the Tuesday trip.

"Last time we came back we didn't think about the 5-0 before it because it makes no sense," he stated. "We are here often enough to know we can not win a game before we play so that is it."

Former Porto winger Diogo Jota was also present for the pre-match press conference on Monday and echoed his manager's sentiments.

"Not only me, but I follow Porto and those results [against Liverpool] didn't show the real difference," Jota stated. "At [the Estadio do] Dragao, it's never easy for away teams, so if we let ourselves go there and think about those results, we will struggle."

He continued: "It will be closer to the Porto team who met Chelsea last year [than when the Reds faced Porto in 2018 or 19]. They will be difficult.

"Sometimes we can't impose our gameplan, sometimes we can. It will be tough tomorrow."