A common theme with Liverpool, the defence. Talked about for all the wrong reasons and it comes under the same scrutiny here again. Klopp needs a first choice goalkeeper and a settled back 4. He needs to settle on a defence, give them 4/5 games together and if it doesn't work, tweak it. If it doesn't work again, take out the problem and try somebody else. If it doesn't work and January comes around, recruit the weakest area.
Imo, Liverpool's best defence in terms of defending for me is this:
Mignolet
Gomez Matip Lovren Robertson
I know Lovren isn't great, but he's way ahead of Klavan imo. I know some will say shift Gomez to CB and put TAA at RB for his attacking, crossing and set piece ability, but it needs no matter, that's just opinionated. But either way, Klopp needs to start a regular goalkeeper and back 4, give them 4/5 games together and again, if it doesn't work, tweak it. Players will have bad games, injuries happen yes, but he keeps changing the defence too much.
For example, how does he think changing his goalkeeper for every CL game will work? Mignolet worked hard, had to endure a tough time on the bench in parts last season but throughout 70%+ of last season, helped Liverpool to 4th. Surely he wants to play in the CL? Karius isn't good enough yet, 3/4 shots on target so far in the CL have resulted in goals and last night's was poor. Changing his RB every other game can't bring the best out of either Gomez/TAA and Moreno playing at LB is a liability. What does Robertson have to do to get a chance in the first team?
Liverpool obviously need to recruit at least 1 defender, likely a CB, in January. But Klopp needs to decide on a settled defence, because chopping and changing will not help.
The defence
posted on 27/9/17
I dont give with the midfield theory at all. Most of the goals we have conceded this year were down to defensive errors (ie Lovren miskick, TAA switching off)
posted on 27/9/17
Not a theory pal. We've been quite wasteful in midfield too. Look at hendersons header at the Etihad which gave possession to City which led to the opening goal. Prior to that, City looked very ordinary.
posted on 27/9/17
Can did the same yesterday. Gave it away and left us exposed.
posted on 27/9/17
Yeah i agree problems in midfield too. I still think better defenders wud solve a lot of issues though.
posted on 27/9/17
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 58 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
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This +1
The middle 3rd of our team seems to have some mystical ability to escape criticism.
posted on 28/9/17
comment by Metro.⚽️ (U6770)
posted 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
My worry is that the midfield are escaping criticism because of the calamities at the back.
Henderson, Can and to a lesser extent, Wijnaldum aren't doing enough to protect the defence. That's the first line of defence and opposition teams seem to bypass our lads with ease.
Had Liverpool signed a Matic type player then not only would we have claimed possession more in the middle but I'm certain the defence wouldn't have looked half as bad.
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Totally agree. 100% right
posted on 28/9/17
Didn't Can do a good job at CB for Rodgers?
posted on 28/9/17
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
posted on 28/9/17
comment by Can Solo (U6997)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Is our midfield so very different to any other? Every team will give the ball away in the middle of the pitch from time to time. I haven't checked but I'd doubt our ball retention stats are significantly worse (if at all) than other good sides.
The difference is we're being punished for them. When other midfielders lose the ball they have firstly either defence and then their goalkeeper to bail them out. We don't seem to have that.
Now you could argue that the defence would benefit from having a Matic type players there so when the rest of the team lose the ball they have a DM, the defence and then the GK to get through, but Klopp doesn't play that way. Criticising the players for not playing the role that our manager doesn't employ seems a little daft.
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Retention can't be that bad, Liverpool usually boss possession. Maybe the areas it is lost is what's costly
posted on 28/9/17
I agree the midfield make errors. Give the ball away, can't protect the defence etc which will undoubtedly leave them exposed at some point. Liverpool do need a holding midfielder, especially for home games to support that defence. Its a plausible theory.
All the other top 4 teams play with at least 1 holding midfielder. Chelsea have Bakayoko/Kante, United have Matic, City have Fernandinho and Spurs have Wanyama/Dier in that role. Arsenal have Coquelin as well, but they have the same issue. But Liverpool don't have anyone. The only one they had (who was still poor) was Lucas and they sold him.
You look at Madrid with Zidane. They have a midfield that couldn't operate, left them exposed and they dropped points. He introduced Casemiro who is the glue in that midfield, he gives them much better balance and is now arguably the world's best defensive midfielder at this point. Zidane hasn't been afraid to give players like Isco, Asensio and Casemiro a chance in the last year or two and it has been rewarded. They are 3 very important players to Madrid nowadays. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little bit of quality to strike balance which is key in any team in my opinion. If Klopp can bring this midfielder in, Liverpool will look stronger defensively.