Liverpool’s Defensive Woes: How Full-Back Struggles are their Biggest Challenge This Season
Liverpool faces significant challenges this season, primarily linked to their defensive struggles and the performance of full-backs. Their recent record highlights these issues, as the team has suffered six defeats in their last seven matches, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike.
Liverpool’s Current Struggles
As the Premier League weekend approaches, Liverpool prepares for a crucial match against Aston Villa at Anfield. The team enters this fixture following a disappointing stretch, having lost their last four league games. Additionally, they were eliminated from the League Cup by Crystal Palace earlier this week.
Previous Matches and Tactical Adjustments
Manager Arne Slot is under mounting pressure as he attempts to navigate this difficult phase. Recognizing the need for squad rotation, he has opted to field several youth players in recent matches. After the defeat to Palace, Slot emphasized the importance of maximizing player availability for upcoming games, acknowledging a growing list of injuries affecting his team’s performance.
Financial Investment vs. Performance
Liverpool invested heavily in new talent during the summer transfer window, spending €483 million on players, with €365 million directed towards forwards. Despite these expenditures, the expected attacking output has been underwhelming. Key players like Mohamed Salah have struggled, recording just three goals and two assists in nine league appearances, while new signings have collectively contributed only five goals and assists across 21 league games.
Defensive Deficiencies
While Liverpool’s attack has seen a minor dip, the defence presents a more troubling picture. The team is conceding an average of 1.8 goals per game in all competitions, marking their poorest defensive record in five seasons. This represents a significant 64% increase in goals conceded compared to last season.
- Goals Scored: 2.0 per game this season, down from 2.2 last season.
- Goals Conceded: 1.8 per game, the highest in five years.
The team’s defensive struggles are compounded by the decline in form of crucial players such as Virgil Van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch. The situation is further complicated by attempts to replace prominent full-backs like Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose absence has been felt acutely.
Full-Back Contributions and Future Prospects
Full-backs play a pivotal role in Liverpool’s attacking strategy. This season, defenders have contributed only two goals and assists combined, equating to just 7% of total offensive output. In contrast, last season’s defensive line provided a much healthier 13% contribution.
New signings Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, while talented, have struggled to make a significant impact. Kerkez has managed one goal in his nine starts, while Frimpong’s involvement has been limited, leading to concerns about their ability to fill the shoes of their predecessors.
Conclusion: Need for Balanced Performance
Despite the current challenges, Liverpool has the potential to improve. However, Manager Slot must find the right balance between the attacking and defensive units. As the team gears up for the must-win match against Aston Villa, the spotlight will be on whether they can overcome their defensive woes and restore faith among fans.
