Liverpool said they are forgetting Alisson as a real Jurgen Klopp...

Liverpool players have been told to forget about Alisson Becker – and remember what made them the Premier League champions.

The Reds will be without Alisson for at least the next month as he recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in training.

With the Brazilian absent, Jürgen Klopp’s team slumped to their worst defeat since 1963 when they were beaten 7-2 at Aston Villa two weeks ago.

Liverpool will be active again after the international break on Saturday when it comes to leaders Everton for the 237th Merseyside derby.

And former Liverpool captain John Barnes has urged the Reds to accept Adrian’s presence.

“It’s all about the psychological influence he has on the team,” Barnes said in an interview with ECHO.

“Alisson has quality, but there is also the psychological effect he has on the other players who feel safer because he is there.

“The fact that he’s not there doesn’t mean Adrian isn’t a bad goalkeeper. It just means that the defense in front of Adrian isn’t as secure as compared to Alisson.

“Look at when Joe Gomez or Joel Matip played alongside Virgil van Dijk. You are often much better than next to Dejan Lovren. Gomez or Matip are still the same player, but they are more comfortable with a better player.

“Jürgen Klopp will tell his players that – to forget that Alisson is not there because they just have to keep going.”

Liverpool have conceded 26 goals in 14 games since winning the title in June, sparking discussions about continuing to use a high line of defense.

However, Barnes thinks the real problem lies further up the pitch as the Reds lack the intensity with which they have had the best defensive record in the last two Premier League seasons.

“There is nothing wrong with a high line as long as the forwards and midfielders close opposing players and stop the ball from getting through,” he said.

“When that happens, there is no real problem. There wasn’t much from last season.

“Liverpool have probably lost a bit of defensive intensity, not in the last four but from the ones before them.

“I don’t think Liverpool will change their defensive high line. Instead, the focus will be on the rest of the team to close the ball faster.

“It’s not just about falling deeper. It’s about defending better from the front. ”

Liverpool could field two derby debutants at Goodison, with summer arrivals Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota vying for a starting role.

And Barnes believes both will have good value for the Reds in the coming weeks and months.

“These are two excellent new signings,” he added. “They are both players who can join the first team for a longer period of time.

“Especially Thiago, who gives the midfield something completely different.

“When Chelsea went down to 10 men it was immediately clear that Thiago would be the most important player as Liverpool would need creativity from a deeper midfield position.

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“Thiago offers Klopp a quality option that can help maintain the level of performance in the midfield. That may not have happened before.

“Jota won’t necessarily come in and take over from one of the first three. But I think Klopp has been able to rely on him longer than on Divock Origi or Xherdan Shaqiri. ”