Are Liverpool’s Defensive Frailties a Result of Coaching Issues or a New System?

Liverpool have made a solid start to their Premier League campaign, but does more need to be done on the training ground to solidify at the back? Jurgen Klopp has earned himself godlike status among supporters during his eight years at Anfield, taking the side from mid-table obscurity back to the big-time.

Liverpool’s recent change in shape has however sparked some concerns about how easy it is to expose the back line following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move into a hybrid role. The Reds went on a seven-game winning run towards the end of 2022/23 but often found themselves susceptible to balls over the top, a trend that continued throughout pre-season.

The topic was discussed on This Is Anfield’s brand-new ‘Live at 5’ show with Paul Cope and Gareth Roberts from The Late Challenge Podcast. “[Klopp] has been unbelievable and the job he’s done has been phenomenal, off the charts with the money he’s had to spend,” said Cope of Klopp’s time at the club. “But there is a coaching issue at our club and that comes down to the manager. At the end of last season if you’d said to anyone who watched Liverpool ‘what’s the weakness in Liverpool?’ everyone goes ‘you just drop a ball over the right-sided centre-half and expose where Trent is and you’re in. From a coaching perspective and a set-up perspective, you need to solve that problem.”

Roberts added that the new system is “detracting” from the attributes of the likes of Andy Robertson, who has been forced to focus more on his defensive duties with his fellow full-back becoming more progressive. “He’s still getting forward and putting the crosses in and he’s still being that 100mph man but it looks like he’s sort of tethered a bit more because he’s worried about things coming back the other way.”

The Reds conceded four to Southampton on an eventful final day of last season and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four Premier League fixtures that span over the summer break. While there is an embarrassment of riches up front in the squad, the defensive issues continue to be a cause for concern among supporters with the campaign underway.

The lack of a recognised No. 6 within the squad was finally rectified with the signing of Wataru Endo just over 24 hours before the clash with Bournemouth. But there have been calls for further reinforcement in that area of the pitch despite reports suggesting that there are no plans to bring in another defensive midfielder.

So, are Liverpool’s defensive frailties a result of coaching issues or simply a byproduct of the new system? To answer this question, we must first look at how Klopp has set up his team over the past few seasons.

The German coach has always favoured an attacking style of football, with his teams often pushing up high and pressing opponents in their own half. This has led to some impressive attacking displays but also left them vulnerable at the back, as teams have been able to exploit gaps in behind the defence.

The addition of Alexander-Arnold to a more advanced role has only exacerbated this problem, as he now has less defensive cover when teams break forward. This means that Klopp needs to find a way to ensure that his team is better protected against counter-attacks, either by adjusting his tactics or by bringing in another defensive midfielder.

Klopp is also renowned for his ability to get the best out of his players, so it could be argued that he needs to do more work on the training ground to ensure that his players are better equipped to deal with these situations. This could involve teaching them how to better read the game and anticipate opponents’ moves, as well as working on their positioning and understanding of when to press and when to drop off.

Ultimately, it appears that Liverpool’s defensive frailties are a combination of both coaching issues and a new system. The Reds need to find a way to better protect themselves against counter-attacks, while also ensuring that their players are better equipped to deal with these situations. Only then will they be able to truly solidify their defence and make a real challenge for silverware this season.