Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is staying calm despite his side’s first wobble of the season.
The Reds have taken just five points from their last four matches, with a 4-3 defeat to Bournemouth and a 2-2 home draw against West Ham in their last two outings.
That has seen them slip from top of Premier League in early November to six points off the pace set by Chelsea.
Klopp said there was little he could opt for in the way of major changes, with their next match coming on Wednesday at Middlesbrough.
“There are a lot of things to analyse but it’s only two days until the next game, so we cannot make the biggest analysis,” he said.
“We have to adjust, do a few things, and make little changes and then we are in the next game, that’s how it is.
“So, there is a lot of work to do but not a lot to say because we are still in a good way.
“We had two games which we should have won but we didn’t, that cost us five points — but it’s our mistake. Let’s carry on, take the good things and sort the not-so-good things.”
Fifth-placed Tottenham are only four points behind Liverpool, but Klopp said he was not paying attention to the table yet.
“Around the last 10 games you need to be in a position to fight for something,” he added.
“I think we have showed we need to be in a position in the table at the very top because we are good enough to be there.
“Only the teams who are there can fight for the very special things in these moments.
“If the gap is getting bigger because of our results, it’s our fault, but we don’t think about the distance between us and other teams — we only think about the next game.”
Klopp added that his side needed to strike the right balance between defence and attack, saying: “We are a real good football-playing side, but it is always about the balance of risk and protection.
“We did well but balance-wise not well enough, that is what we took from the last two games.
“We need to be protecting, especially when you are in the lead — there is absolutely no reason for taking the highest risk.”
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