Jurgen Klopp insists the return of Joel Matip will not single-handedly be the quick-fix solution to all Liverpool's defensive problems.
The centre-back has missed the last six weeks because of injury and then uncertainty over his availability in a club versus country row with Cameroon.
After a late substitute appearance in the 3-2 defeat to Swansea and an hour for the under-23s on Sunday, Matip is set to start against Southampton as Liverpool seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
The three goals conceded against Swansea, who were bottom of the league when they arrived at Anfield, led to more questions about their defensive resilience but Klopp stressed Matip cannot cure all their ills by himself.
"Of course, it's good because he is a really good player, but he was injured for six weeks," said the Reds boss.
"The other players had to play nearly all the time, that's more the problem in this time - not that Joel cannot play all of the time.
"But I understand football in a different way; the final mistake in the game sometimes it's the goalkeeper, sometimes it's the defender, sometimes it's somebody else, but most of the time there are seven or eight players involved - that's the defending I talk about.
"Everybody is responsible for everything and if you avoid this pass then your team-mate cannot make the last mistake.
"That's how we understand it, so it is not about one player or something.
"It's clear what we've done wrong and we really have to do better."
Source: PA