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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained the reasons behind his club’s poor defensive displays this season.
Klopp told the Liverpool website that the Reds have looked open at the back in recent times, but that is only because his players believe they can win the challenge they are going for.
The issue then comes when the challenge is missed, noted the Liverpool manager.
Liverpool boss not concerned by defensive issues
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While Klopp says he is not concerned by such issues, it is certainly a trying time for the club, who drew 2-2 with Wolves at Anfield in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Wolves are the Premier League’s lowest scorers this season, scoring just 11 goals from their 18 matches. But they managed to find the back of the net twice against Klopp’s side.
Liverpool meanwhile have conceded 22 times in the league this season, more than Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Reds were handed further misery earlier this month when it was revealed that key centre-back Virgil van Dijk will be sidelined for some time with a hamstring injury.
When asked if he is concerned by Liverpool’s defending in general, Klopp replied: “Not in general, but in moments, it’s not concerning… look, you watch a game and then you see the things that happen.
“Whatever you play, high-line, deeper-line, ball-orientated, man-orientated – you have to win challenges. There is no alternative to [that].
“So, yeah. I mentioned already now in the dressing room and I will mention it again and the next team we face is Brighton, who are meanwhile famous for playing proper football. If you don’t defend properly there, then why should we go there?”
Boss admits Reds look ‘open in moments’
Klopp added that his side have looked open at the back on occasion, but the boss is at least seemingly aware of how to fix the issue, much to the relief of Liverpool fans.
Speaking further after Saturday’s FA Cup draw with Wolves, Klopp admitted: “I can understand, it looks open in moments, but it is just open because we think we win the challenge and then we don’t win it and that’s then really tricky to deal with in the end.
“It’s not that they had now chance after chance, what it causes us is a lot of effort to put it right in the end and if you are already there, so you could win it where you are, then you don’t have to run back and try to solve the problems there.”
Klopp: Wolves happier than Liverpool about replay
The Reds will now have to fit in an FA Cup replay with Wolves on 17 January, with that match coming in between league meetings with Brighton and Chelsea.
While Klopp has admitted that he has no problem with the current cup system in place, the Liverpool boss will no doubt be annoyed about having to play another game in what is already a busy season.
The Reds boss commented: “It was clear that we have now to go to Wolves; Wolves [are] probably in this moment more happy about it than we are, but until then we will be happy enough to give it a go.”
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