Liverpool fighting to turn season around

It wasn't so long ago that we were lauding the impact that Jurgen Klopp was having at Anfield and their rise up the ladder along with attacking flair supported this. Now though with no wins in the Premier League in 2017 (their only win coming in a FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle 1-0), Liverpool are scrambling to save their season.

So far this year they have been eliminated from both the EFL and FA Cups to lesser ranked teams and have recently slipped to fifth in the Premier League. Certainly their quest for this season's EPL title is over with their goal now to secure Champions League football for next season.

The Reds' defence has been poor conceding, 30 goals this campaign. Their inability to defend well has cost them very winnable games:

■ v Burnley 2-0 (20-Aug-16)

■ v Bournemouth 4-3 (4-Dec-16)

■ v Sunderland 2-2 (2-Jan-17)

■ v Hull City 2-0 (4-Feb-17)

Klopp has settled on the inconsistent pairing of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip at the heart of defence with Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner player the wider roles. Milner isn't a know defender but has filled in superbly since Alberto Moreno fell out of favour with Klopp last season.

Klopp said after the Reds' loss to Hull "I feel 100 per cent responsible for defeats, much more than I feel for wins. It has been like this my whole life”.

Certainly Klopp needs to take some responsibility for Liverpool's dip in form but it is hard to say he is to accept the full blame for their performances. The players have to bear some of this criticism also.

Liverpool's goalkeeping woes have been in the spotlight for the entire season. They started with Simon Mignolet in goals due to an injury in pre-season to Loris Karius. Once fit and due to a dip in form by Mignolet, Karius took over as the Reds' number one only for Mignolet to return due to some errant performances by Karius. One wonders whether Mignolet will start this weekend against Spurs' after his performance against Hull.

Liverpool's inability to nail down a reliable goalkeeper since Pepe Reina's departure has been a hot topic season on season. This is something the hierarchy is going to have to address if Liverpool are going to have success in the coming seasons.

There's no question that Sadio Mane's departure to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) disrupted the Reds' forward line and team balance. Though since his return, his impact has been stunted by opposition sides.

Coutinho has been another inconsistent performer since

his return from a foot injury. Coutinho and Mane lit up the Premier League early in the season with their flair and goals. Teams feared facing such an imposing forward line.

A worrying stat is that Liverpool have only managed six goals in their last five Premier League outings, compared to averaging 2.4 goals per game up until that point.

On a positive note, Liverpool's record against the other big five clubs is impressive - no losses so far this season with match-ups against Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City still to come. If the Reds can survive these games without losing, it could gain them the much needed points required to move back into the Top 4.

Liverpool's poor performances against lesser ranked teams will be tested in a run of matches in April where they face Everton, Bournemouth, Stoke, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Watford. It has become somewhat of an Achilles heel for the Reds to leak points against weaker opposition and any slip ups here and they could be facing another season without European Football.