Jurgen Klopp urged to improve Liverpool defence during January transfer window

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be aiming to improve his defence during the January transfer window to cure the club's leaky backline, according to former striker Emile Heskey. While the Reds are the highest scorers in the Premier League, they have shipped 14 goals in their 11 matches – the most of any side in the top seven.

Victory over Watford was somewhat overshadowed by the concession of a late Daryl Janmaat goal, with Klopp later preferring to identify his side's defensive shortcomings after the game than praise their attacking abilities which saw them put six past Walter Mazzari's side. The criticism came after the German was forced to tinker with his back four after Dejan Lovren withdrew with illness.

Klopp had previously claimed he was looking to improve his attack in January after the season-ending knee injury suffered by Danny Ings last week. But Heskey, who scored 39 goals in 150 appearances during four years with the Merseysiders, says the defence needs major work to relinquish the pressure on the club's attack.

"If Klopp is looking to go into the transfer market, that's where he'll probably be looking at – defensively," he told TalkSport. "At the moment it's like they're just looking to outscore teams, they know they're going to score goals. If their opponent scores two, they make sure they score four. A lot of teams will work from the back upwards; make sure everything is solid at the back first, and then you can work on everything going forward. Liverpool seem to be doing everything the other way around."

The 6-1 win over Watford took Liverpool's goal tally in the top flight to 30, the best of any side in the Premier League. Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana have starred with 19 goals between them, with their synergy leading to comparisons with the Luis Suarez-inspired side led by Brendan Rodgers during the 2013-14 season.

On that occasion Rodgers' side agonisingly missed out on end the club's wait for a league title, which goes back to 1990, but Heskey does not believe the current crop have yet eclipsed the team from two seasons ago. "Liverpool have been a breath of fresh air," the 38-year-old added.

"Going forward they look so fluid with Coutinho, Firmino and Mane. It's funny how they don't have an actual striker up there, they just have players who are all inter-changing. I wouldn't say it's a better team than with Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling, but they play a very similar brand of football with a fluid front three. They're playing some really exciting football and they'll probably go just as close, if not one step further, this season. They're looking very good to do it."