Ian Wright has put the boot into Liverpool for lacking the "basic" skills to kill off a game.

The ex-Arsenal striker believes the Reds need to wise up on the "professional" tricks players use to hold on for a win.

And he's branded manager Jurgen Klopp an "idealist" for claiming he'd rather quit than boss a team who resort to cynically seeing out games.

Writing in The Sun following Liverpool letting their fifth lead of the season slip against Chelsea on Saturday, he wrote: "We’re not talking cheating here. We’re talking basic game management. The ability to run down the clock in a professional and organised manner.

"To me, Klopp’s words were those of an idealist. Great in theory, but not practical at all — not if you want to win things. It smacked of him trying to mask his team’s mistakes and embarrassment through his principles. And I don’t believe him for one minute.

Willian's late chip cost Liverpool three points on Saturday (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
It's the fifth time the Reds have thrown away a lead this season (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

"This is the man who said he could produce a book on defending in two hours — but they are still leaking plenty of stupid goals. Maybe he should sit down and start writing."

Liverpool were leading against Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday and looked to be on course for three points against the Premier League champions.

But a late Willian chip, above, which took 'keeper Simon Mingolet by surprise, meant the points were shared.

Klopp has come in for criticism (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Wright is the latest pundit to turn on Klopp following the draw after Joey Barton yesterday claimed Liverpool were "regressing" under the German.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Barton said: "They are closer to West Ham, who are in the relegation zone, than they are to the top of the table.

"At what point do you say, 'he needs to adjust?' His ego is in overdrive."

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