Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers concedes his side have work to do when they return from international duty.
A surprise 3-0 defeat against West Ham United – their first home league reverse against the London club in almost 52 years – exposed not only defensive weaknesses but creative shortcomings.
Slaven Bilic set up his side to deny their opponents the space to play and buoyed by an early goal from Manuel Lanzini – the first Liverpool conceded in the Premier League this season – they controlled the game.
Captain Mark Noble capitalised on two errors by Dejan Lovren before Diafra Sakho added a late third with the hosts pushing forward in an attempt to regain some respectability.
The closest Liverpool came to a goal was Roberto Firmino’s 25-yard effort against the post in the first half and Rodgers knows they have to create more chances. The task will not be made easier when they return, against Manchester United at Old Trafford, without influential playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who is suspended after two yellow cards against West Ham.
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“You saw Arsenal, who are terrific on the ball, lose 2-0 at home to West Ham,” he said. “All teams will be looking at ways to beat that block.
“There will be lots of games like that so we have to find a way on the training field in order to develop that patience, work the ball and exploit it.
“There is a long way to go yet. We will learn from it; we always analyse every game.
“You have to be better and you want to be better in your next game.”
Rodgers has spent upwards of £80 million (Dh453.3m) on recruits this summer and does not expect to add any more before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
However, he does expect an improvement when they head to Old Trafford and in all their future home games.
“Four out of the seven teams have lost at home on Saturday and up until yesterday there were six home wins in 30 matches so it will be difficult to get your home wins in.
“We have seven points from 12. The players will come back after the internationals and we will refocus and look to put in a much better performance away from home.
“If I have the squad I have got then I will be happy to work with that team.”
Bilic was asked why his side can win away at Arsenal and Liverpool and yet lose at home to Leicester City and Bournemouth. His answer was much the same as Rodgers’s.
“When you play away against Arsenal and Liverpool you are organised. I can organise things very well,” he said.
“We are behind the ball, whether it is in front of their box or our box, we let some of their players have the ball but we don’t want them to have it in some areas.
“We can keep the ball or use space. When you play at home your opponent is like that and they want you to come and then organisation is not enough.
“We are not suffering because we have six points but we are going to have to change the way we play at home.
“But it is going to be like that until we get some more in, or people like Andy Carroll or Enner Valencia come back from injuries.”
Having both beaten and lost to opponents they were not expected to, West Ham defender Winston Reid has called for greater consistency to make the season a success.
“We’re choosing to get our victories at difficult places this year,” he said.
“We need to show up for the lesser sides as well. We can’t just play well against the good teams or it will be a long season.
“It is still early days. Just because we went to Liverpool and won it doesn’t mean we are going to be a top team.
“In the easier games we need to show up and see the same desire and commitment.”
Reid signed a new contract in March after much speculation about his future. The centre-back, who did a superb job keeping £32.5m striker Christian Benteke quiet, is optimistic about the future.
“Slaven is a good manager. He does things in his own way. He is getting his ideas across really well,” he said.
“I am happy and settled here, otherwise I wouldn’t have signed.
“We’ve had a new start with a new manager, and the place has been freshened up a little bit, so I am looking forward to it.”
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