The Reds midfielder says that everyone, not just the back four and goalkeeper, need to defend better if they are to push for silverware this season

Jordan Henderson has called on his Liverpool team-mates to help improve the team’s defending after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

The Reds have conceded 28 goals in the Premier League this season, the highest of any side in the top seven, although they have balanced their goal difference by scoring 53 times.

Liverpool are fourth in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and Henderson believes that to push for the title they need to defend from front to back.

“We have to defend better as a team,” the England international told the Liverpool Echo. “It’s not just about the back four and the ‘keeper, it’s the whole team. I’m sure that’s something we will work on.

“When we changed the formation we dealt with things better and got ourselves back in the game. Having got back to 2-2 with over half an hour left, we wanted to kick on and find a winner but we just couldn’t get it.

“Credit to Villa as they came with a game plan and their tactics in the first 20 to 30 minutes were working. We found it difficult to play and weren’t at our best.

“They played a diamond formation with Weimann in behind me and Stevie. They had a lot of bodies in and around the middle for the flick-ons off Benteke. It was difficult to cope with at times.

“We’re disappointed. We set such high expectations here. We want to go into every game and win it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that but the good thing is from 2-0 down we showed our character and our fight.

“We showed that we didn’t want to be beaten. Villa beat us 3-1 here last season and we were beaten away to Stoke last season. If you look at it that way then it’s an improvement.”