I hear this a lot, "Liverpool are weak defensively and concede too many: they need more clean sheets to be a credible title challenging team"
Over the course of last season that statement above appears true, however the "trend" is far more positive that a mere glance at the numbers. Its clear the defence is tightening up and the work on the training pitch is paying off.
Its not really personnel thats needed, although of course we wouldnt mind a VVD, most wouldn't. No its more a team problem, and that gets solved on the training pitch. Go back to the end of last season and this pre season and you see some really interesting statistics.
Last season run in (from 16th April)..this date picked because it seemed to be when the team started to defend much better.
Games played...... 6
Clean sheets.........5
Against..................2
For.........................10
This pre season
Games played.......8
Clean sheets.........4
Against..................4
For.........................19
So the last 14 games have yielded 9 clean sheets and only 6 goals against while have scored 29 times. To me its clear that the more time klopp has spent with the team on the training pitch the more the team understands the defensive set up. Add in the defensive reinforcements then the trend and numbers back up my assertion that we clearly have no defensive issues.
In fact in you extrapolate those numbers above to the coming season then we "should" be on course to concede around 15-20 goals in the league. If thats true or anywhere near then a title quest will be on because offensively we have no issues at all.
Let me make it clear, I dont expect to concede as few as 20 goals its merely an indication based on the last 14 games, I do however expect our defence to be much much more solid and actually it wont be an achilles heel as last season....the trend and numbers back this up.
Weak defensively is a myth.
posted on 6/8/17
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
posted on 6/8/17
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 1 minute ago
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
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Well it is really, because they are the games we typically struggle in. We did great against the other big teams last season.
posted on 6/8/17
Fair enough FBT
I was under the impression you struggled to break these types of teams down though? That's where this so called struggle you mention comes from.
I guess I'm just saying clean sheets against that lot with some of those sides having nothing to play for at the end of the season isn't that much to write home about.
posted on 6/8/17
When you read this you think 'that can't be right' but jesus christ!
Chris Williams @Chris78Williams
#LFC have conceded 140 league goals in 3 seasons - Yet only targeted one CB in all of world football? #Criminal if it stays the same
posted on 6/8/17
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 54 minutes ago
Fair enough FBT
I was under the impression you struggled to break these types of teams down though? That's where this so called struggle you mention comes from.
I guess I'm just saying clean sheets against that lot with some of those sides having nothing to play for at the end of the season isn't that much to write home about.
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We do, but we're also capable of conceding silly goals against them as well.
posted on 6/8/17
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 1 minute ago
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it is really, because they are the games we typically struggle in. We did great against the other big teams last season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 of those teams were already safe of relegation and on the wind down.
1 team was relegated before we played them.
Palace needed the points and beat us 2-1 at home.
posted on 6/8/17
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 1 minute ago
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it is really, because they are the games we typically struggle in. We did great against the other big teams last season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 of those teams were already safe of relegation and on the wind down.
1 team was relegated before we played them.
Palace needed the points and beat us 2-1 at home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It can work the other way too. Teams with nothing to play for can express themselves without fear.
posted on 6/8/17
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 1 minute ago
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it is really, because they are the games we typically struggle in. We did great against the other big teams last season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 of those teams were already safe of relegation and on the wind down.
1 team was relegated before we played them.
Palace needed the points and beat us 2-1 at home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It can work the other way too. Teams with nothing to play for can express themselves without fear.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rarely happens but ask yourself which West Brom would you rather play? One that has 40 points and is safe or the one which is fighting for relegation?
posted on 6/8/17
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Firmino's Brightest Tooth (U1217)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
comment by Buzzyspur (U10177)
posted 1 minute ago
These last 6 games where you were better defensively.... surely who you played in those games may have something to do with it?
West Brom, Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and 'Boro.
Admittedly you did look better defensively but that's hardly a run of games to use as a barometer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it is really, because they are the games we typically struggle in. We did great against the other big teams last season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 of those teams were already safe of relegation and on the wind down.
1 team was relegated before we played them.
Palace needed the points and beat us 2-1 at home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It can work the other way too. Teams with nothing to play for can express themselves without fear.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rarely happens but ask yourself which West Brom would you rather play? One that has 40 points and is safe or the one which is fighting for relegation?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We beat them earlier in the season as well don't forget, when they had something to play for. Ditto Palace, Watford and Boro.
posted on 7/8/17
I find your lack of realism disturbing.