Liverpool: Stop worrying about clean sheets; winning is all that matters
By David Gate
Liverpool conceded a goal for the fifth Premier League game in a row causing many fans to stress over the lack of clean sheets, but winning is all that matters.
It wouldn’t be Liverpool Football Club if the fans didn’t find *something* to whinge about. The Reds are top of the league by eight points after beating Man City 3-1 last night but some fans are getting concerned about the lack of clean sheets this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s men pulled in a record 97 point haul as they finished second to City last season and that was built on an incredible run of clean sheets in the first half of the season.
Despite the side having more points in this campaign at the same stage the lack of games without conceding is troubling some anxious Kopites.
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Liverpool have just two clean sheets this campaign; against Sheffield United and Burnley. After 12 games last year they had seven.
Some of that early season conceding was attributed to Alisson Becker being injured and Adrian taking his place. The presumption being the return of the Brazilian would lead to more shutouts. However, he has conceded in all five games since his return.
Should we be concerned? Not really. Those five games were against Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Manchester City.
The Villa game is the only one you would *expect* to keep a clean sheet and that was an away game which makes it even tougher.
No team has scored twice against us in 12 games. The Reds have conceded 10 goals total; the third best defensive record behind Sheffield United and Leicester.
Three of those conceded goals came to teams who were 3-0 or 4-0 down at the time (Norwich, Arsenal & Man City). We have also conceded in all five games that Joel Matip has missed in the league.
Give Alisson Becker and easier run of games. Get Matip back in the starting lineup. The clean sheets will come.
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The most exciting thing is that the Reds are undefeated with 34 points and they aren’t even at their best. I’m not worrying about clean sheets. I’m bricking it about international injuries instead!