Philippe Coutinho blames "whole team" for Liverpool's defensive frailties

Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has claimed that the "whole team" need to take responsibility for the goals that they conceded against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's men were heavily beaten 4-1 at Wembley, with Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli getting on the scoresheet.

The Merseyside outfit have allowed 16 goals to be shipped past them in nine Premier League games, and all but one of those were conceded on the road.

"It's not just about the defence, it's about the whole team," Sky Sports News quotes Coutinho as saying. "The first goal started out wide when everyone was involved in defending, not just the wingers or full-backs. We have to improve this as quickly as possible in order to win games.

"In more difficult games, like the Tottenham match, that's what decides results. It's those challenges that can make the difference so you have to be more attentive. I think they were goals that could have been avoided - they ended up being silly goals.

"To concede in the first four minutes unsettled us all, then the next goal came after 12 minutes. It's really hard against a strong team when you start like that. I think what we have to do is work hard at dead-ball situations and on balls from the flanks."

The Reds are currently ninth in the league table, 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.