Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has insisted that the team is improving following their goalless draw at home to Sunderland.

The Reds were denied a third consecutive victory in the Premier League on Saturday as they were held by the determined Black Cats.

Brendan Rodgers's side are now in ninth place in the table, but Toure believes that the squad is starting to get better.

"It is better, but last season we did much better than that. We have had a difficult start but we are catching up slowly and surely. There is more work to do, definitely," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"Last season we were outstanding in every area and going forward it was amazing, defensively we were strong, but this season has been difficult. We are catching up and the team feels more secure and we need to keep going in that direction."

Liverpool return to action on Tuesday night when they host Basel in a crucial Champions League game.