After a 4-1 battering at the hands of Tottenham, questions need to be asked of Jürgen Klopp for Liverpool’s ongoing defensive troubles.
When Klopp first arrived at Anfield, many Liverpool supporters hoped that he would sort out the Reds’ defense. Time and time again under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool had put on a scintillating attacking performance only to be outdone by amateur defensive errors. Now, more than two years after Klopp’s appointment, the same pressing matter threatens to boil over following a disastrous performance at Wembley.
Let’s take a look at the four goals Liverpool conceded in London:
In just the fourth minute of the game, Dejan Lovren fails to deal with a simple ball put in behind him after a throw-in. He doesn’t even jump for the header. Kane slips in behind, takes the ball past Matip and Mignolet, and rolls it into the goal for the 1-0.
Matip and Mignolet don’t exactly cover themselves in glory here, but Lovren is the biggest culprit. If he deals with what should be a simple ball for even a Sunday League center back, Kane wouldn’t even get to it.
Lovren strikes again. This time, the Croatian center back charges at a long ball thrown by Hugo Lloris (not shown in the video), but he fails to get his head on it. Kane easily gets in behind once again and the Reds are practically put into a 2-on-1 situation. Son is faster than Henderson and Milner, allowing Kane to play a brilliant ball to the South Korean forward. Son drives it past Mignolet and, just like that, Liverpool are 2-0 down less than 15 minutes into the game. Catastrophic.
This goal comes in added time of the first half. Emre Can, now at right-back after Lovren was taken off, commits a silly foul and gifts Tottenham a free kick. However, the Spurs are fairly conservative here since it’s just before halftime.
Only one Tottenham player makes the run into the box. Matip gets his head on the ball, but fails to really clear it. Alli then steps forward, completely unopposed, and volleys it into the back of the net. Mignolet should do better. Even when Tottenham aren’t actively trying to score, Liverpool’s defense finds a way for them.
Lastly, in another free kick situation, Mignolet’s attempt to clear the ball is awful. It falls to Jan Vertonghen right outside the 6-yard box, who has a shot that is somehow saved by Roberto Firmino. However, the rebound falls to Kane and the England striker completes his brace.
Klopp to blame?
At face value, none of the goals conceded really seem to point to a structural problem that Klopp could change. For the first two, it’s mostly Lovren’s fault, while Mignolet does poorly for Tottenham’s last two. However, this can all be traced to Jürgen Klopp’s decisions in the summer.
For months, Liverpool actively wanted to sign Virgil van Dijk and the Dutch defender desperately wanted to join the Reds. Van Dijk was the perfect complement to Joel Matip. Strong in the air, tall, fast, physical, and still good with the ball at his feet. Liverpool never ended up getting him, something which seemed difficult after having to publicly to “end all interest in him.”
Liverpool apologized to Southampton for their role in the van Dijk saga on June 7. The transfer window didn’t end until August 31. That gave the Reds over two months to look for other options. It’s clear that Liverpool needed a center back, not just because of their terrible defensive record, but because they were already looking for one in van Dijk.
Two months went by and nothing happened. The only defensive addition brought in was Andy Robertson, but he’s only played two league matches until now. Liverpool also lost Nathaniel Clyne to injury, as well as backup center back Lucas Leiva. Arguably, they ended with an even worse defense.
Klopp’s defensive delusions
“I don’t see (the defense) as a concern,” Klopp said in early August. “Look out there and tell me five (center backs) that would make us stronger.”
The decision not to reinforce Liverpool’s defense goes back to Klopp. His loyalty to his players is proving to be detrimental. Even when equipped with the infamous “£200m warchest,” Klopp refused to budge on his main target and stuck with the array of the defensive options that has previously let him down. Simply put, he’s had enough transfer windows to mend Liverpool’s defensive woes, but he has failed to act on it.
In a stark contrast, Tottenham had the best defensive record in the league last season and still bought Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier, two players in Pochettino’s starting eleven that just obliterated Liverpool. With this loss, Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in their first nine games, the most since the 1964-1965 season. That’s three more goals than Bournemouth, currently in the relegation zone, and only three more than Crystal Palace who sit dead last.
How does this get fixed?
Luckily for Klopp, the situation can still be fixed. After Lovren’s disastrous mistakes in the opening half hour, Klopp hooked him off the pitch, giving way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and moving Joe Gomez to center back. This was a rare proactive move from Klopp, who has recently taken far too long to make any changes at all.
The German manager has to continue being proactive, at the very least until January. Gomez is young and will make some mistakes, but that’s the only way he’ll grow. The English center back was signed to be a pillar of Liverpool’s defense for years to come. He can’t get there without significant player time.
When the transfer window opens back up, either in January or in the summer, Klopp has to seek out reinforcements. Van Dijk should still be the primary option, but if he’s still unattainable, then the Reds can’t be shy in looking for other options.
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It’s now up to Klopp to sort out his defense or Liverpool’s shortcomings will be on his shoulders.