Jurgen Klopp warns Liverpool they must do better after repeated defensive errors against West Brom

The Reds' recurring problems cost them a place in the FA Cup fifth round

Klopp lamented the repeated errors by his side (Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has told his Liverpool players that they simply must do better after familiar defensive errors led to their elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of West Bromwich Albion.

A Jay Rodriguez brace and a Joel Matip own goal gave Alan Pardew’s visitors a 3-2 fourth round victory at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah responding for the hosts.

That, however, only tells half the story of an extraordinary game dominated by the use of VAR, the new video technology system currently being trialled in English football’s cup competitions.

Referee Craig Pawson referred to VAR for three key first-half decisions - ultimately ruling out one West Bromwich goal, delaying another and awarding a Liverpool penalty, which was then missed by Firmino.

While all three decisions were proved to be correct, the time it took to reach them - nearing eight minutes in total - and the confusion caused led to much post-match debate about the pros and cons of the new system.

Liverpool could hardly blame VAR’s problems for their defeat, though. They were undone by the same old defensive frailties that have blighted the club in recent years rather than any new-fangled technology.

Klopp recognised as much while speaking after the final whistle and, though often protective of his players in the wake of a defeat, he simply could not hide his frustration with the performance he had witnessed.

“It's not allowed to concede goals like we conceded tonight. That's it,” the Liverpool manager said, having seen his midfield bypassed for both Rodriguez strikes, while Matip’s own goal ultimately proved decisive.

“In a lot of other moments, you saw that we are still in a good moment. We are able to do this or that, but of course under the pressure of being 3-1 down in a cup game, you will never be able to play your best football.

Rodriguez scored twice for West Brom (Getty)

“We have to avoid these things, 100 per cent. The mistake was so obvious that these mistakes are to absorb, that's not a problem, but now we have the feeling that something is wrong.”

The defeat was Liverpool’s second in the space of a week after last Monday’s 1-0 reverse at Swansea City but also came not long after the impressive victory over league leaders Manchester City, which Klopp hoped would provide a platform for the rest of the season.

“I don't know exactly how long it is but maybe 10 days ago we were here talking about City, one of the best football games we were a part of,” Klopp noted, before insisting that complacency had not set in among his squad after that result.

“Nothing in training gave me a sign that the boys misjudged the success or result against City, or the performance. We are really serious people and we took it I think in the right way, but then we had two games and we have to show that we can do better.

“We have to do better,” he reiterated, as he turns his attentions to Tuesday night’s Premier League trip to Huddersfield Town. “We've played two games in a row in which we didn't perform like we can. It's not that anybody thinks or expects too much from us. Look at both games and you have to say that was not good enough, simple as that.”

Klopp was not as concerned with VAR’s teething problems as his West Bromwich counterpart Alan Pardew, though did believe that the system should have punished Ahmed Hegazi for a late and dangerous challenge on Firmino.

VAR can be used for incidents involving straight red cards, whether the match referee has shown one or not, so long as the official’s error is “clear and obvious”.

“Harsh challenges should be picked up,” Klopp said. “I'm not 100 per cent sure but I think if the video assistant referee is not responsible for something like that we should think over the rules again because the ref needs help in a situation like this.

“It’s the start of it [VAR],” he added. “It's normal that it's a little bit rusty but I think it will be OK.”