LFC’s Brilliant and Resilient Defense Deserves Credit
Liverpool’s victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday was undoubtedly a thrilling moment for fans, with the late heroics of Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez stealing the show. However, it would be remiss to ignore the tremendous effort and resilience displayed by Liverpool’s defense throughout the match.
In order to secure a late win, a team must first lay the groundwork for success. This is exactly what Liverpool did by keeping a hard-earned clean sheet at the City Ground. Despite injuries causing selection challenges in midfield and upfront, the backline remained steadfast and unyielding.
While the influential Trent Alexander-Arnold was absent, Conor Bradley seamlessly filled his position, ensuring that his absence was hardly felt. Additionally, Jurgen Klopp had the luxury of fielding his first-choice back four, consisting of Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate, and the formidable Virgil van Dijk.
The importance of this defensive setup became evident as Nottingham Forest struggled to break through Liverpool’s resolute defense. Forest managed only eight shots, with just two on target and two big chances. Their xG (expected goals) total was a meager 0.97. This starkly contrasts with last season’s meeting between these two teams at the same venue, where Forest had seven shots on target, created five big chances, and ended with an xG of 1.85, resulting in a deserved 1-0 win.
The key to Liverpool’s defensive prowess this time around was the unbeatable duo at the heart of their defense. Konate won an impressive 7 out of 10 duels and made nine defensive actions. Van Dijk, on the other hand, won 4 out of 5 duels and contributed six defensive actions. Both players displayed exceptional composure in possession as well, ending the game as the top two players in terms of touches and boasting passing accuracies of 92 and 94 percent, respectively.
Amidst all the praise for Liverpool’s defense, it is important not to overlook the contribution of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The Irishman kept his third clean sheet in a row, making two crucial saves that denied Nottingham Forest an xGOT (expected goals on target) of 1.15.
This defensive solidity has been a consistent theme for Liverpool throughout an 11-day stretch that included four games, four wins, three clean sheets, and a trophy. As Liverpool faces the upcoming crucial period before an international break, it is clear that their defense will need to maintain this level of performance. With a bit of luck and a continued injury-free run, the credit for Liverpool’s success may finally be directed towards the men who provide the foundation for their victories.