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Jurgen Klopp pledges to end Liverpool's set-piece problems ahead of Stoke semi-final

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp doesn't blame Christian Benteke for breaking his glasses and insists he'll be paying for them himself

Jurgen Klopp has pledged to end Liverpool's terrible defending from set-pieces once and for all.

The Reds have struggled to protect their penalty area from corners and free-kicks all season, conceding eight times from corners in the Premier League alone.

Klopp's side conceded all four goals from set-pieces in a 5-4 thriller against Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday and the German insists it is a problem they "cannot ignore" any longer.

Steven Naismith scores Norwich City's second goal on his debut to put the Canaries 2-1 up before the break
Image: Steven Naismith scores Norwich City's second goal on his debut to put the Canaries 2-1 up before the break

"It's not too late to learn and now it's time to. We are always working on our weaknesses," Klopp said.

"We spoke about it really intensively. It was a good talk together; not the first one, but hopefully it will be the last one.

"It's not about the formation, nor the quality of the set-plays. It's about what we are doing in these situations. Against Norwich, we defended the first ball well but struggled then with the second or third.

"For the goal of (Dieumerci) Mbokani, there was still a full box so we could have pushed up earlier and left them offside. That would have been a clever idea."

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Dieumerci Mbokani celebrates
Image: Liverpool conceded all four goals in a 5-4 win over Norwich from set-piece situations, including Dieumerci Mbokani's opener

Klopp was speaking ahead of his side's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at home to Stoke on Tuesday, with his side 1-0 up on aggregate.

His glasses were smashed accidentally by Christian Benteke during wild celebrations at Adam Lallana's winner at the weekend, but Klopp said: "It was my fault and no one ever has to pay when it is my fault.

"I am wearing my second pair now. They are black, and I look a little bit like a serial killer.

"Now we have the best situation you can have in a second leg. We won the first game away, now we have the opportunity to play at Anfield.

"I heard about the special atmosphere at Anfield, and I am really excited, looking forward to it. Let's take the power of LFC and go to the final."

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