Milner: LFC form needs to improve at Anfield

If result in Liverpool’s first few away games are anything to go by, Jurgen Klopp seems to have unlocked the key to having the Reds perform on the road. The problem though, still lies at home, where Liverpool continue to struggle in front of their own fans.

The Reds let fans down again two weeks ago, in a defeat to Crystal Palace, after dominating the games but struggling to make the possession and chances count; something that most would agree is a leftover from the previous regime, where Brendan Rodgers was unable to instill enough confidence in his players to make Anfield a fortress again.

But Klopp has already recognised this as an issue, particularly after noting that the same lack of confidence has even spread to the fan-base, after seeing Liverpool supporters leave in droves with over 10 minutes remaining against Palace.

And his current captain (standing in for Jordan Henderson), James Milner agrees that it is something the players really need to improve upon.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Milner said: “We’ve been through a lot already this season – we’ve had good results, poor results and a manager change. There’s been pressure at times and that’s what you expect playing for a massive club like Liverpool.

“But we’ve shown we can beat anyone in beating Chelsea and Man City away from home, and we’ve had a number of other good results away from home too.

“It’s probably only the home form that’s let us down, but in a way that’s a pleasing thing because we know what we need to try and change. If we can improve our home form, we won’t be too far away and we’ll be in the area of the table that we want to be.

“We’re improving, the manager has come in and changed the way we want to play and the longer we’re together, the better we’ll get at that I’m sure. There are a number of signings and injuries we’ve had this season, so it’ll take time for people to bed in and for us to get one or two back as well.

“All these things come into the reckoning, although no-one’s used the injuries as an excuse because the quality we’ve got throughout the squad means we’ve got a more-than-good-enough squad to deal with them.

“We’ve proven that, but it’s about getting the consistency and doing it week in, week out for 95 minutes every game. The quality is definitely there, as is the tempo, intensity and will to win.”

With Bordeaux arriving in Liverpool in the next 24 hours to take on Jurgen’s boys at Anfield on Thursday, the players have the opportunity to start amending those home-based issues straight away, and send themselves into the knockouts in the process.

Can the Reds improve at home in the coming games, and what needs to change in order to improve at Anfield?