Former Liverpool captain Paul Ince has offered an unusual assessment of his former club’s woes – and pointed the finger of blame firmly at the Reds misfiring forwards.

While Liverpool’s defending has come under scrutiny several times this season, Ince said: “Everyone is banging on about Liverpool’s defence … but what people seem to forget is that is that in most games they have loads of chances – and good, clearcut chances – which they aren’t putting away.

“I really sympathise with Jurgen Klopp, because he’s brought a philosophy into Liverpool that sees his team create chance after chance consistently.

“They’re brilliant going forward and, the thing is, if his forwards don’t take those chances they put pressure on the back five or six.
“If they’d have taken a few more of those chances this season – including against Spartak in the Champions League where they drew 1-1 – the game would’ve finished three or 4-0. And if they’d been better in front of goal, no one would be moaning about their defence.
“There’s got to be more onus on those forward players for not getting the ball in the net and being more clinical.”