As one of only three teams to maintain a 100% win record after four Premier League games, have Liverpool finally got round to fixing that defence?
Have Liverpool Finally Addressed Their Defensive Problems?
Four games doth not a season make, and therefore the headline may lean towards the slightly misleading side of affairs, as it’s almost impossible to say for sure. What we can note for certain, however, is that the club seems to be moving in the right direction in terms of defensive stability, and it is clearly a high priority in Jurgen Klopp’s notebook.
But then, why wouldn’t it be? With an attack as potent as the one the Merseyside club possesses, all that was left to rectify was the defensive frailties that cost Liverpool any chance of silverware last season.
A fourth place finish and exiting the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the fourth and third rounds respectively, it’s perhaps unusual that this Liverpool side is the one considered the most likely to take on the Manchester City behemoth in this season’s title race, but all the signs are there that Klopp is on the verge of plugging those problematic holes.
Unprecedented Opening
This is the first time in the Premier League era that Liverpool have started with four wins out of four. The last time the Reds enjoyed such a fruitful beginning was in the 1990/91 season – a season which they entered as reigning champions. For pub quiz lovers, that season was the final time the Charity Shield was shared, as Liverpool and Manchester United played out a 1-1 stalemate at Wembley.
Liverpool went on to take all three points in their first eight top-flight games, unbeaten after 14. Their 15th game ended in a dismal 3-0 loss to eventual league winners Arsenal, when the now punditry trio of Paul Merson, Alan Smith and Lee Dixon got on the scoresheet. The Highbury outfit were the only team to keep a better defensive record than Kenny Dalglish’s side that season.
Can Lightning Strike Twice?
Liverpool face Arsenal in their 15th game this season (in all competitions), agonisingly close to being prophetic, and Klopp will be hoping to replicate some of that 1990 spirit to drive home another set of victories. They are yet to play any real title or ‘Big Six’ challengers this season, with Leicester City probably the toughest test so far. Defensively, Liverpool were in control of the game, 2-0 up and cruising before some suspect over-confidence and a Cruyff turn reminiscent of a turning tugboat from goalkeeper Alisson granted the Foxes a way back.
What Liverpool fans can take as a positive is that they still won the match. The 2-1 scoreline at the King Power and the preceding 1-0 victory over Brighton were results that experts are filing under ‘probably would have been a draw last season’. This comes as a result of disappointing draws last year such as those at Anfield against Burnley (1-1) and at St James’ Park (also 1-1).
The introduction of the Champions League group stages and the early rounds of the Carabao Cup is sure to throw a spanner in the direction of Liverpool’s so-far well-oiled works, but the club now has much stronger strength in depth in order to deal with it.
No ‘I’ in Team
And arguably there shouldn’t be an ‘L’, ‘O’, ‘V’, ‘R’, ‘E’ or ‘N’ either, what with Joe Gomez coming into the squad and impressing with his pace, power, patience and composure in all four fixtures so far. Alongside the impervious Virgil Van Dijk, the young Englishman has formed a formidable defensive partnership, and both Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip should struggle to break back into the team. When called upon, they are experienced and better than many give them credit for, and are certainly an improvement on Ragnar Klavan as backup, despite a bizarrely emotional farewell video that went viral back in August.
Farewell Ragnar ? #lfc pic.twitter.com/ow3t5E6pCg
— ً (@AllezAllezReds) 17 August 2018
The club and Klopp must have known what they were buying into in order to commission the purchase at such a monumental price, but it isn’t an uncommon opinion that if Liverpool are to be sturdy in defence then Alisson needs to bring his penalty area showboating down a notch. As mentioned earlier, the £67 million goalkeeper has had moments of madness already, but looks a reliable shot-stopper and, Cruyff turns apart, looks adept at playing out from the back.
The added protection that Liverpool’s central midfield brings Alisson will help the Brazilian settle in, with Jordan Henderson and James Milner’s ball retention and new boy Naby Keita’s ability to turn over possession providing welcome relief for a young back line. The side already looks stronger in midfield than last season and, frighteningly, sitting screener Fabinho is yet to even join the party.
Recently named Scotland captain, Andy Robertson has gone from strength to strength at left-back, while Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to be learning from his cross-border counterpart at right-back – a position that can also be filled superbly by Gomez if needed.
What Are You Made Of?
With just one goal in four games conceded, and one of those being the result of a mistake which is (if Klopp’s touchline reaction tells us anything) unlikely to happen again, the youth-filled Liverpool defence appears to be progressing nicely. Liverpool’s next seven games include Spurs, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea twice, Napoli and Manchester City, so the real test of their defensive mettle is yet to come.
The additions have been positive, player development has been rapid and results have been solid – but the next handful of fixtures could be make or break for Liverpool’s trophy ambitions.
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