Jurgen Klopp was dealt another blow on Tuesday night as Liverpool were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leicester City.
Shinji Okazaki’s goal and a wonder-strike from Islam Slimani gave Leicester a 2-0 third-round win.
A frustrated Klopp, whose side have failed to win or keep a clean sheet in their last four games, told Sky Sports: ‘I am sick of goals like this. Leicester somehow survive in the game because we’re not clinical enough. They scored too easily.’
Jurgen Klopp shows his frustration on the touchline during Liverpool’s defeat by Leicester
The game turned at half-time when Philippe Coutinho was withdrawn for Ben Woodburn and Liverpool lost their attacking spark.
He said: ‘After the first goal you saw the heads from Leicester went up, that was a bigger difference. The game changes in moments like this, you have the chance to do it by yourself or sometimes you are on the wrong side and that’s how it is.
‘But that we concede like this, that makes me really, really sick.
‘We are still a good football team, I see it, but unfortunately it doesn’t feel (like that) at the moment because it’s a cup competition. We wanted to go into the next round and nobody is interested who plays the better in the first half.
‘The story of this game is really easy to tell, we were the much better team in the first half, we played good football, we didn’t score, that’s sometimes part of football.
‘But as long as we concede goals like we conceded today, then it is quite difficult.’
Klopp admitted he was ‘really, really sick’ of the Reds’ defensive frailties on Tuesday night
Coutinho was replaced by Woodburn at half-time as he returns to fitness following a delayed start to the season, which saw Liverpool reject up to £114million from Barcelona for the midfielder.
And Klopp defended the decision to take the Brazilian off, despite him being Liverpool’s best outlet.
‘That was the plan before the game. He needs match time but it was not the plan to let him play again 60 or 70 or 80 minutes,’ said Klopp.
‘Forty-five is the limit. We need to get him fit but we cannot push him through.’
Philippe Coutinho was Liverpool’s star performer during the first-half before being withdrawn
Coutinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke wasted fine openings in the first half before Okazaki and Slimani struck after the break.
Liverpool return to the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday and Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare admitted the Foxes were fortunate after a first-half bombardment.
‘We know we led a charmed life in the first half. Our goal was under threat,’ he said.
Islam Slimani and Shinji Okazaki scored the goals as Leicester went into the fourth round
‘I was delighted to get in at half-time and then delighted to see Coutinho had gone off which was one of the main contributions to us.
‘We spoke at half-time about being more aggressive, having options on the ball and hitting our strikers quicker. It was a good response
‘Winning breeds confidence and it’s a happy dressing room. If you’re in a cup, you’re in it to win it. Hopefully it’s a kick-start.’
Craig Shakespeare admitted the Foxes were fortunate in victory at the King Power Stadium