Jurgen Klopp says he has "no real explanation" for Liverpool's lack of cutting edge after they slumped to a third defeat of the season with a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.
Taiwo Awoniyi's second-half goal was enough for Steve Cooper's side at the City Ground on an afternoon when the visitors failed to create anything clear-cut in open play.
Virgil van Dijk had Liverpool's best two opportunities, heading wide from a set-piece situation at the end of the first half before his late effort from a corner into the box was well saved by Dean Henderson.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Joe Gomez and four others awful in Nottingham Forest defeat
INJURY LATEST: Jurgen Klopp reveals dramatic dash to hospital that ruled Thiago out for Liverpool
Darwin Nunez added to Liverpool's injury woes up top pre-match as he joined Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz on the sidelines, although the Uruguayan is at least in contention for a return at Ajax on Wednesday night. However, Liverpool lacked a creative spark without the trio of attackers as they were beaten by the Premier League's bottom side.
“Set-pieces count, we can score from them," said Klopp. "We forced them and believe me, they didn’t want to be defending set-pieces against us. In the end we couldn’t use it, and that’s our fault.
“Their keeper had two good saves but the others were better chances when we just missed the goal. I think Virgil thought in the first half he was offside, which he wasn’t. How often has Bobby Firmino scored from these moments, how often has Virgil put those balls into the back of the net? There’s no real explanation.
“How we can’t score from a set-piece, I have no idea. That’s it, pretty much. The performance I can explain, the result not really."
Curtis Jones made his first start of the season after Thiago Alcantara pulled out of the game with an ear infection in the early hours of Saturday morning. The England Under-21 international started alongside Fabinho in a two-man midfield on a forgettable day for the Reds.
Klopp added: “I thought Curtis did really well, but he’s not used to the position. He can play there definitely but he wasn’t even in my thoughts to start. He did really well but we didn’t create that much, I’m not concerned about that because I wasn’t surprised by it. These things can happen."
READ NEXT
-
Jurgen Klopp has no excuse for Nottingham Forest defeat despite truth about 19 Liverpool players
-
Jurgen Klopp explains why he reacted to Didi Hamann Liverpool comments
-
Steven Gerrard breaks silence following brutal Aston Villa sacking
-
Rate the Liverpool players for dismal 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest
