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Skrtel: Don't blame back four for Liverpool's leaky defence

Liverpool were fortunate to leave Loftus Road with three points after conceding two late goals against QPR © Getty Images

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Martin Skrtel believes Liverpool's defensive problems cannot be pinned on the back four but on the team as a whole.

Liverpool face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday following a shaky 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League's bottom side.

Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet this season, against Tottenham in August, and have conceded 16 goals in 11 matches ahead of the showdown with the reigning European champions.

Skrtel's defensive partner Dejan Lovren has accused Liverpool of playing as individuals rather than a unit, particularly without the ball.

But while Skrtel insists Brendan Rodgers' side need to take collective responsibility to stem the flow of goals conceded, he believes the visit of Real Madrid might be the perfect opportunity to galvanise the squad.

"The easiest way is always to criticise the defenders and keeper," said Skrtel, who alongside Steven Gerrard was part of the starting line-up that beat Real Madrid 4-0 in 2009.

"But I've said it before that defending isn't only about the back four, it is about the whole team. We are attacking together and we are defending together. We know it wasn't good enough [against QPR], but we will try to improve."

Liverpool are currently fifth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Chelsea, while they have three points from their first two games in Group B of the Champions League.

"Every game is important for us, especially in the Champions League because you only have six group matches and we want to qualify for the next round," Skrtel told the Daily Mail.

"Every game has its own story. Maybe we will be happy with a point, maybe disappointed but at the moment we are only thinking of getting three.

"This is what we play for. The Champions League is the best competition in the world because you face the best players in the world. In my eyes, they are the best team in the world so this is a big challenge for us, but we'll do our best and try to get a good result."

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