James Milner admits Liverpool’s response to consecutive defeats will define their season

James Milner admits Liverpool’s response to back-to-back defeats will provide a measure of the strength of character of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Monday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers came four days after the first loss of the Premier League campaign at Manchester City that allowed Pep Guardiola’s side to close the gap on the Reds at the head of the table to four points.

Klopp’s side now visit Brighton on Saturday aiming to get their season back on track and having maintained their progress throughout the first half of the campaign even when performance levels have dipped, Milner, the experienced midfielder, admits his team-mates now face a major test.

“Every team has a blip in the season, you're not going to go a full season without one,” he said. “At the start we weren't playing our best but were getting results. Back to back defeats isn't really good enough for us but you have blips in a season.

“It's not about them, they are expected but it's how you respond and bounce back. You've seen the character in the squad over the last few years and the players we have to know we will bounce back. It's easier saying that but we have to do that at the weekend.”

Klopp controversially made nine changes to his starting line-up at Molineux and suffered a further blow when centre-back Dejan Lovren was forced off after just five minutes. That paved the way for Ki-Jana Hoever to be introduced from the substitutes’ bench to become the youngster Liverpool player to appear in the FA Cup.

Teenagers Curtis Jones and Rafa Camacho were also included against Wolves for their senior debuts and the performances of the youngsters provided a positive for the Anfield club. “It's good for the young guys to get the experience,” said Milner. “it's not good to taste defeat but we learn more. Ki coming on after a minute and playing like he did, he was outstanding. He is going to be a top player.”

For Milner, though, that was scant consolation with the former England man insisting Liverpool’s focus was on advancing in all competitions, no matter what demands that places on the squad.

“When you're a team like us we want to win every game,” he said. “We're disappointed not to win and go through. We are doing well in the league, but that's not what we've been thinking about, we wanted to progress in every game we play.

“I don't know what game number the Wolves game was for the season but it's been every three days we'd had to readjust and respond. We have done that well this year. We didn't get the result we wanted but we didn't roll over by any means.

“It's disappointing and we have to make sure we recover and bounce back. We have reset our sights for another big game and they keep coming. Hopefully we can get a few of the injured lads back.”