Jurgen Klopp searches for solutions before Liverpool take on Manchester United

Wasted chances in front of goal have proved to be the champions' undoing

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session in the build-up to the game against Manchester United. Getty

Diogo Jota working out at training. Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp oversees the training session. Getty

Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino of Liverpool during training. Getty

Georginio Wijnaldum and Neco Williams tune up for the Sunday fixture at Manchester United. Getty

Sadio Mane of Liverpool during the training session. Getty

Alisson Becker and Curtis Jones of Liverpool. Getty

Georginio Wijnaldum and Andy Robertson at training. Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has spent the week working to improve his players' confidence in front of goal as they head into a must-win fixture against arch-rivals Manchester United.

The Reds have scored just twice from 36 chances created in their last two matches, which have been defined by late equalisers costing them four points and putting their Champions League qualification hopes in jeopardy.

It took a couple of days for Klopp's anger to subside after conceding with virtually the last kick of the game against Newcastle, but he quickly switched into analysis mode as he sought to show the players where they could improve.

The German has yet to win at Old Trafford - Liverpool's last victory there was in March 2014 - but knows victory on Sunday is vital if they are to maintain their outside hopes of a top-four finish.

But they will only succeed if they cure their wastefulness in front of goal and to that end Klopp has been providing them with plenty of analysis in an attempt to rectify a problem which has dogged them for most of the season, particularly at home.

"Last week (against Leeds and Newcastle) we had 36 chances and scored twice, that is obviously not a number you want," he said.

"There are two things: we don't score often enough but we create a decent number and that's what we have to keep doing.

"We tried to help the boys, we showed them situations like this. Not shouting at them 'How can you not score in this situation?', just giving them different options in the moment, helping them with the right information.

"After the (Newcastle) game I was not in a good mood - no-one should have been. The next day it was slightly better but not much.

Liverpool v Newcastle player ratings

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian made good saves from Longstaff and Joelinton. He was unable to do anything about the equaliser. Reuters

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5. The 22-year-old showed flashes of his best form but did not create enough going forward. He had one shot that flashed past the post. AFP

Ozan Kabak - 6. The Turk won his first battle with Saint-Maximin but hacked the winger down and was booked in their next exchange. He struggled against quick counter attacks but made some good challenges. AFP

Fabinho - 5. The Brazilian was turned by Joelinton and was fortunate that the striker’s shot was tame. Some of his defending looked desperate. PA

Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot was restricted in his forward movement by Newcastle’s threat down the wing. He shot just wide after a second-half run but was less effective than usual. Getty

Georginio Wijnaldum - 5. The Dutchman had to cover too much ground when Newcastle broke quickly. He was exposed because the team started with four strikers and two midfielders. Reuters

Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 30-year-old was given plenty of time and space but produced few really threatening passes. He was never able to get to grips with Newcastle’s counter attacks. Replaced by Jones with 13 minutes to go. AFP

Sadio Mane - 4. The Senegalese dithered in a shooting position and allowed the goalkeeper to clutch the ball. He worked hard but seems to be suffering from a lack of confidence. EPA

Roberto Firmino - 4. The Brazilian showed some neat touches in his link play and was foiled by Dubravka in the second half. He buzzed around the area but had little impact. AFP

Diogo Jota - 4. The Portuguese had plenty of chances but misfired badly. His passing was off beam, too. Replaced with 32 minutes to go when Milner was sent on to shore up the midfield. PA

Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian scored a magnificent early goal and seemed set on bagging a hatful but did not put his chances away. EPA

SUBSTITUTES: James Milner - 6. The 35-year-old was introduced in place of Jota with 32 minutes left to bolster a midfield that was too often over-run. He made his presence felt and tested Dubravka. Curtis Jones - 5. Joined the action for Thiago with 13 minutes left but did not influence proceedings as a timid Liverpool sat deeper and deeper. PA

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7. The Slovak made a number of good saves, the best coming when one-on-one with Salah. He kept his team in the game. EPA

Jacob Murphy - 6. The 26-year-old showed ambition going forward and had some first half success behind Robertson. His passing let him down when in good positions. Getty

Federico Fernandez - 6. The Argentinian clattered Jota and was booked. He was strong overall and remained calm when the defence was under pressure. Getty

Ciaran Clark - 5. The 31-year-old was lucky to get away with a gruesome mistake in his own area. He was never secure against the Liverpool attack. Withdrawn in the 64th minute when Newcastle tried to push forward with Willock. Getty

Paul Dummett - 5. The 29-year-old was exposed at times by Liverpool’s pace and movement but stuck to his task. He made an important intervention to deny Salah. Reuters

Matt Ritchie - 4. The 31-year-old got caught in a mismatch with Salah for the opening goal and was badly outmuscled. He should have done better in second half when in a crossing position in the opposition area. AP

Sean Longstaff - 6. The 23-year-old should have equalised when clean through in the first half. He gave the ball away on the edge of his own area in the second period and was relieved when Salah shot into the side netting. EPA

Jonjo Shelvey - 6. The former Liverpool midfielder picked out Longstaff with an excellent ball to create a fine chance and threatened with passes behind the defence. He also made a ridiculous 70-yard backpass that left Dubravka exposed. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 4. The Paraguayan managed to get in Joelinton’s way and botch a good first-half opportunity. He failed to take advantage of the space in the midfield and displayed a poor touch. Left the game in the 85th minute for Gayle. Getty

Allan Saint-Maximin - 7. The Frenchman caused significant problems with his direct running and was given rough treatment. He faded in the second half when Liverpool got extra bodies in midfield and cut off supplies. AP

Joelinton - 4. The Brazilian was unable to benefit from the space created by Saint-Maximin. He had one excellent opportunity, bamboozling Fabinho, but it ended with a lacklustre shot. Replaced by Wilson with half an hour to go. AP

SUBSTITUTES: Dwight Gayle - 6. The 30-year-old joined the game in the 85th minute for Almiron. He helped put pressure on the defence and was more effective than the man he replaced. AP

Joe Willock - 7. Brought on for Clark in the 64th minute. The 21-year-old took advantage of Liverpool’s meek approach, got forward and scored the last-gasp equaliser. Callum Wilson - 7. The striker replaced Joelinton in the 60th minute and immediately gave his team more incisiveness. He was denied a stoppage-time equaliser because the ball rebounded off Alisson and hit his arm. Reuters

"Two days later I was completely fine and I watched five or six games of us in two days to try to understand things better.

"You just have to bring yourself again in these decisive situations and when you are there you try to make the right decision and that is what we are working on with a lot of things in training and talks as well, some video sessions.

"It was a busy week but no problem as I have nothing else to do, so we try to use the time."

United head into the game on the back of a 6-2 Europa League semi-final first leg demolition of Roma and Klopp acknowledges that does not bode well for his side.

"Is it the best place to go after conceding a late goal against Newcastle? I don't know," he added.

"Is it the best place to go after watching them score five goals in one half last night? I don't know.

"We will see, for sure it is a game when you are a Liverpool player or a manager it is the game where you have to give everything anyway.

"They looked pretty good (against Roma) and we are ready for that. I have no worries, to be honest.

"We trained intensely, we tried to stimulate intensity which means we will have the right legs to go in and then we will see what we make of it."

Klopp has set his side the target of winning their remaining five matches, but even that may not be sufficient to get them where they want to be.

"No, five wins will not be enough, for sure not, it depends on how the other teams play obviously. But without five wins we don't have a chance," he said.

"So as long as we are not 15 points behind with only three or four games to go, why should we write it off?

"We think we can still go to the Champions League but we will need results in other games (to go for us). We know that.

"But without winning our own games we will go nowhere, so we are not that naive."