Jurgen Klopp insists that Liverpool’s current malaise is not down to bad luck.
The Premier League champions’ title defence has slipped to a seven-point deficit on current leaders Manchester City while also exiting the FA Cup.
Mohamed Salah fired a brace in Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United but is part of a Reds’ front line failed to score a league goal for over 400 minutes.
Klopp acknowledges that while his side suffered several injury setbacks earlier in the season, they cannot attribute any part of their downturn to misfortune.
He said: “Of course we speak, but we spoke in good times as well. What I tell the boys is for the boys, that’s clear. But of course we adjust things.
“It’s not that we think we cannot do better individually and as a group. It’s not that we think ‘My God, it’s just unlucky!’.
“Some of the things that happened to the squad were unlucky, with injuries early [in the season] but since then, it’s not unlucky.
“It’s [about] us and how we deal with the situation, with different things. That’s the truth.
“The first goal we conceded against United, I think we tried too hard. I prefer rather trying too hard than not trying it, because we had no protection.
“It was like everybody wanted to be involved in the finishing, which is good. But of course you have to do is slightly different, but not completely different.
“That’s the thing we have to do.
“Yes, we need options; target players, passing players and then we need protection as well. Around the first goal, that was especially not the case.
“For a game against Tottenham, you should make sure that you are well protected with the way they play. It’s all a process and we are in it.
“Unfortunately I cannot guarantee immediately a turnaround but we work on it and we will stay, we will really be there to show that we are ready.”