Liverpool Needs Defensive Adjustments to Win the EPL

The Reds are only three points from the top of the table. Two of the three teams ahead of them, Arsenal and Manchester City, have grueling Champions League campaigns which could tire them out as the season wears on. Liverpool, for their part, are facing a long Europa League run which they hope to come out of victorious. The key to that, and something Jurgen Klopp must work on during the international break, is their defense.

Defense the Key to Liverpool Season

Two shutouts from ten matches is not the record Liverpool were hoping for on defense so far this season.

Yes, a clean sheet every five fixtures is impressive, but when your opponents include Bournemouth, Wolves, LASK, a relegated Leicester City and a horrid Chelsea, an argument can be made that the backline should be doing better.

Liverpool have conceded nine goals in eight Premier League matches. Two more than ninth-placed Crystal Palace and 11th-placed Chelsea.

The backline that Klopp normally utilizes, with some small variations, relies heavily on veterans. Andy Robertson plays on the left. Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip anchor the center of the pitch. TAA patrols the right flank.

Trent is the youngest player at 25 years old. Both centre-backs are 32. Robertson is aged 29. A big factor in the defensive problems, connected to age, is endurance.

Reds fans already know that VVD is not the near Ballon d’Or winner he once was. Matip too is past his prime. Recently the squad has been giving up late goals that could prove costly down the stretch.

The struggles are a well-documented issue. English outlet The Athletic has written several articles detailing Liverpool’s liabilities at the backline.

Matip is making more late-game mistakes, and TAA is not yet the immaculate veteran fans claim he is. Yes, the youngest member of the “regulars” is a brilliant player who continues to grow, but he is not perfect.

As we are months away from the closest transfer window, there are two options that Klopp and the board can use to fix this issue.

Both methods are related and allow the current starters to keep their roles. First: Recall a youngster on loan.

It might not sound ideal, but supporters need an answer. Sepp Van de Berg, a youngster on loan to Mainz, has impressed in the Bundesliga.

Another player who could be brought back to the first squad is Nathaniel Phillips. His future might be far away from Anfield, but with a loan to Celtic set to end in January, paying a little cash to get him back sooner could make a huge difference.

If not that; use option #2. Subs, subs even more substitutions. Liverpool has squad depth. Klopp should use it.

Why Joe Gomez has not been playing every game is beyond some supporters. Ibrahima Konate adds additional services to use. Finally, thanks to an alleged injury to Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas has been gifted a chance to prove himself.

Should he impress it is likely Klopp will be swayed into giving him more time out on the pitch even after the Scot returns.

Liverpool do not have a defenders problem. They have a defensive problem. Steady rotations of skilled footballers will solve this issue.

We tip our hats to Matip and VVD who made history with the Reds. Now that they, like Mats Hummels at Dortmund and countless other aging defenders, are unable to play the full 90 minutes at top level, accommodations must be provided.