Defence

[Jim D]

Not really one for starting threads but I feel this is one that needs a discussion ongoing throughout the season. The defence has been an huge issue now for years. The stats must be really scary and I'd love someone to dig them out.

 

Goals conceded, shots on target conceded to goals conceded, individual players in the back line, Mignolet etc.

 

We've now conceded five goals from our last five shots on goal conceded, it's embarrassing and I don't know what the solution is.

[Falconhoof]

Matip and Karius might have made a difference, or Sakho, or Ben Chilwell.

 

The problem has been recruitment.

[crisps]

Someone decent in front to protect too.

[muleskinner]

Matip and Karius might have made a difference, or Sakho, or Ben Chilwell.

 

The problem has been recruitment.

The issue there is injuries surely?

[D.Boon]

Well, we have a new keeper and centre half to come in. Fingers crossed they're not s*** and people start asking for Sakho to be made captain. Central midfield is quite useful in stopping conceding goals of course.......

[Flight]

Yeah think we're alright for CB for now, problem is what's in front of them (and relying on Mignolet as back up).

[Jim D]

Personnel can't purely be the issue, we've had players come and go in this time from Kenny through Rodgers and now Klopp. Is there something systematic going on at the club? Goalkeeper and defensive coaches?

[KopiteBob]

Henderson is not a DM so him playing in front of the back 4 isn't going to help. Once we have Karius in goal it will improve us as he will spread confidence through our back 4 instead of Mignolet who hesitates at every opportunity possible.

[MarkD]

Any team that starts a game with Mignolet, Moreno (or a plodding right foot midfielder in his place) and a just ok right back is asking for trouble. Add to this no midfielder cover to speak of, and it become a systematic issue of poor recruitment, poor planning and a degree of arrogance (maybe?) that managers believe it doesn't matter because we will score more goals than others.

[muleskinner]

Any team that starts a game with Mignolet, Moreno (or a plodding right foot midfielder in his place) and a just ok right back is asking for trouble. Add to this no midfielder cover to speak of, and it become a systematic issue of poor recruitment, poor planning and a degree of arrogance (maybe?) that managers believe it doesn't matter because we will score more goals than others.

The new keeper has a broken hand, as you know.

[Case]

Sakho and Lovren were great together. Can or Lucas in front of them, Karius behind.

 

Job done

[Barnesy_10]

What's the deal with Sakho? Injured?

[Case]

He must be close to being fit surely. Whether Klopp wants him anymore is unclear.

[muleskinner]

Not fit yet.

[Cheesecake]

Today showed what we are missing in midfield, we have seen numerous times how Lucas stops attacks, how Allen would come on and shore up the middle. Henderson and Wijnaldum couldn't put a plug in a f***ing bath. Apart from a waning Lucas we have no one who knows about the defensive side of being a midfielder.

Edited August 21, 2016 by DPD1973

[New York Red]

Does Klopp have a history of playing with a hardass DM? It seems like it would make the world of difference.

[Euphrates]

Does Klopp have a history of playing with a hardass DM? It seems like it would make the world of difference.

He used to play Sebastian Kehl as a holding midfielder, he's more of a Lucas type, with a runner alongside him, that was Sven Bender. Then they started using Bender as a more mobile shield DM who would still drop between the CBs, with Gundogan alongside him.

 

I think that's the basis for thinking Henderson can operate there? 

 

We basically have no competition for Emre Can besides Lucas.

 

 

Edited August 21, 2016 by Euphrates

[Jim D]

Not one for digging up old threads but that game today has made me so enraged. Been Groundhog Day for the past seven years. Hodgson, Rodgers and Klopp seem incapable of setting up a defence.

 

Woeful on set plays, the lack of organisation is mind boggling. I mean how hard can it be? We've been fantastic going forward for a while but the foundations of our team is built like a house on sand.

 

We need defensive solidity and we need it now otherwise we are in serious danger of not getting past Hoffenheim. Seriously though do they even practice phases of play that involve defending on the training ground?

 

We've been s*** at defending set plays for years. Nothing's changed, so frustrating.

[kop205]

It goes back to the last couple of years of Kenny the first time, barring 2 or 3 seasons under Rafa.

 

It has been a very long time and is pretty deeply ingrained in the culture of the club and how opponents perceive us now.

 

Wimbledon knocked us off our perch more than that c*** down the East Lancs ever did.

[jimbolala]

http://www.football365.com/news/f365s-early-loser-liverpools-set-piece-defending

 

Carragher is correct, unfortunately

[realtarragona]

Just woeful.

 

It's not just a personnel thing either. Bringing in someone like VVD will obviously help but got to question the training or how much we actually work on defending, set pieces etc.

 

I mean what on earth was Wijnaldum playing at there. It wasn't a difficult clearance ffs.

[Jim D]

http://www.football365.com/news/f365s-early-loser-liverpools-set-piece-defending

 

Carragher is correct, unfortunately

Spot on that from Carra and the author. Klopp needs to get a system in place for this and quick. Spend the majority of training next week practicing set plays with the team communicating effectively with each other. Why ignore the one glaring weakness in the team, right?

[Falconhoof]

If he doesn't get a grip of the defence he will be finished at this club. 

[Cam]

If he doesn't get a grip of the defence he will be finished at this club.

 

It's sad we've got to this stage. We said the same about Rodgers.

[Bogman]

If he doesn't get a grip of the defence he will be finished at this club.

 

Blimey.

 

I'm too old for all this.