In a Season where we conceded a whopping 50 goals – 2 more than 11th placed Crystal Palace and one less than 13th placed West Ham – much talk in the Summer transfer window will be about signing a new centre-back as the most important position for us to fill.
I disagree.
I don’t doubt that there are weaknesses in our central defender group. Many can highlight the individual failings that have occurred this season with the centre-backs at our disposal.
Daniel Agger has struggled to deal with set pieces, frequently losing his man at corners and costing us goals. He has continued to lose more pace as his regular injuries continue to blight his career, and isn’t able to play a high line as he struggles with mobile attackers with pace.
Martin Skrtel, in one of his best seasons for the Reds, still has the capacity to switch off at least once per game – which may or may not cost us a goal. While his clearances and commitment to win challenges has marked him out as our best performing centre-back, he is still only mediocre in possession and does not organise or lead those around him.
While his 7 goals have been very impressive he has also conceded a Premier League record 4 own goals in a season. Sometimes own goals are unavoidable, i.e. when a defender can do little about it and shouldn’t be harshly blamed, but Skrtel, as with Toure earlier in the season, has conceded some incredibly ridiculous OGs from sloppy technique, as in the Newcastle game.
Kolo Toure, having started the season a regular by playing well, descended into a litany of unforced errors that cost us points and the confidence of the defenders around him. A great shame as Kolo is the only vocal leader of our senior centre-backs.
And Mamadou Sakho, in his first season in England, tends to drop progressively deeper into the 18 yard box when defending, and sometimes struggles to co-ordinate his feet when in possession and under pressure.
Our only other option has been Martin Kelly, who has struggled in recovering from a serious cruciate knee injury, and hence has barely played at right back, and never played at centre-back until the recent end of season friendly against Shamrock Rovers.
And yet, for me, the goals we’ve conceded are not merely down to these 4 main centre-backs and their individual development needs. The manner in which we attack with abandon with our full backs far forward regularly puts our centre-backs under pressure on the counter attack. With our centre-backs required to split to the flanks in order to receive possession from the keeper, if we lose the ball soon after they are both suddenly out of position.
Steven Gerrard has had an excellent season, impressing in his deep quarterback role, but he is often the only midfielder around to help the centre-backs when we lose posession, with Coutinho/Allen and Henderson much further forward and having to try to scramble back.
Our centre-backs are put under far more pressure than any other centre-backs at top clubs in the league. They do need to improve but aren’t as bad as many seem to be making out.
Daniel Agger is captain of Denmark and wanted by a host of other top teams, this should point to the fact that he still has a lot to offer. He also loves the club and understands how to play out from the back. Martin Skrtel is Captain of Slovakia, and the type of defender few forwards wish to face. He’s strong in the air and in the challenge and has held his own against the best attackers in the Premier League.
Kolo Toure is coming to the end of a glittering career but his leadership and demeanour around Melwood is a big help to younger defenders in all positions. He has only a year left on his contract and can be useful next season when we wish to rest other players for Cup games. Mamadou Sakho is a very talented and still young centre-back.
Despite his ungainly style, he rarely gives the ball away and passes forward quickly and accurately. He is very fast and strong and with coaching can learn to push the line forward. His goals took France to the World Cup and he has captained Paris Saint Germain when only a teenager. When his English improves he is likely to show his leadership abilities more with time.
Furthermore, Martin Kelly will start the season injury free and have a full pre-season behind him, while we also have the returning Andre Wisdom and Tiago Ilori, who has played regularly for Granada as they escaped relegation.
We have options in central defence, and a lot of talent. We have players at all ages of their development from 32 through to 21. What they need is dedicated defensive coaching. Brendan Rodgers himself said that he has primarily focussed on possession and attack, as he he took over a team that had finished 8th scoring just 47 goals and conceding 40. He has fixed that problem, and it has taken us from 7th to 2nd.
Fixing our defensive woes isn’t merely about the centre-backs, but the way the midfield defends, and the manner in which the full backs time their forays forward. It is far more complicated than simply buying a new centre-back.
Nevertheless, I believe we will try and sign a centre-back this season, not least because it seems possible that Daniel Agger will be sold. However if we were only allowed to buy one player to fill a single position then I would sign a left-back. With Jose Enrique missing the whole season and likely to continue to suffer with his knee problems, and Aly Cissokho rightly being let go, we are left with only Jon Flanagan and the returning Jack Robinson, who has been playing regularly for Championship Blackpool as they managed to fight off relegation.
Liverpool do need defensive reinforcements. A quality left-back and a powerful midfielder who knows how to defend are at least as important as signing a new centre-back. The reality is that it isn’t easy to defend in the Premier League, especially when you play for a team that attacks with such gusto as our Liverpool team. And to buy a defender of a higher standard than the internationals we already have would require well over £30m.
David Luiz, who is arguably a worse defender than what we presently have, will cost PSG £50m! Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala is likely to cost £40m and is untried in the Premier League. Perhaps the best defensive signing would be a defensive coach that could help Brendan Rodgers – I wonder if Sami Hyypia would be willing to do a short stint at the club?
Whatever our plans this summer, we can be sure that whether it be by signings or coaching, improving our defensive performances will be top of Brendan Rodgers’ agenda.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on twitter: @taintlessred
nice article,can’t agree more.
Thanks!
100 percent in agreement, nicely written.
Spot on. Finally someone who can see beyond the tabloid bo****ks.
We invested heavily in defence last summer and did a pretty good job. What we need is an athletic, passing, tackling centre midfielder. If we manage to get someone like Javi Martinez next to Steven Gerrard’s, we become substantially stronger and more dominant.
YWNA
Totally agree. Last year I went on about wanting to sign Strootman. He’s now had a terrific season at Roma and we can no longer afford him – off to ManU probably. Javi Martinez would be a great signing. I think Emre Can is a player in the same mould, though less experienced, which hopefully indicates that Brendan realises the midfield an help the defence more.
i hope rogers reads this and not the dailysun =D
Very kind of you, cheers!
Nice article BUT, you are still talking about our defence and how they let in half a century goals! It was bad. Where I agree with you is that the many goals we let in was not ALL defenders’ fault. You seem to have pointed out the problem but in passing then you went back to analyzing our defenders again. Yes you are right, the problem is THE SYSTEM we are playing! It leaves the defence exposed badly!!! The second problem is the defensive midfield! It’s too weak. We need a no nonsense defensive midfielder who knows when to attack and when to stay back. Rodgers needs to vary his system depending on the stage if the game ie when we are winning and the opponents are attacking us, play defensive. The other variation is every opponent is different, attack relentlessly or attack get the goals and park the buses!!!
Fair points Chips. I actually initially included discussing the role midfield should play tactically to help the defence etc. and the types of midfielders we should get but I edited it out and decided to simply cover discussing the centre backs as the article got too long. I’ll write about it in more detail in another article.
A very good article with sensible points of views. I’ve also felt through the past season that a solid defensive midfielder was what was needed to help the exposed centre backs, given the attacking system and methods adopted by Rodgers. The problem is that is sacrificed with the 3 central midfielders we prefer to use. With Henderson and Coutinho assisting the attack and Gerrard sitting deep and distributing, we don’t have room for a proper defensive midfielder. Unless of course we make change to that, like have a defensive midfield next to Gerrard, and one attacking midfielder (CAM). The sacrifice here being one less attacking central midfielder, which creates its own issues. Getting the balance right is what’s crucial. Perhaps getting that one CAM to run his socks off in the first half and rotating that position in the second. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks Adheer. If we are playing 3 in midfield, another option is we play 2 solid midfielders and one in front. A Javi Martinez or Emre Can can play alongside Gerrard very comfortably, Lucas can play this role but he lacks dynamism and pace to cover ground. Bayern Munich played this system the year before last where neither Schweinsteiger nor Martinez were strictly holding midfielders.
In such a system if we played Coutinho ahead it’s more of a 4231, while if it’s Henderson it’s more of a 433. I think your idea of having a player run his socks off in the 1st half then sub him is possible, but if you have a player like Henderson he can run his socks off for 90mins. Who you sub then depends on whether your chasing the game or defending a lead.
At Juve Pirlo plays the same role as Stevie but he has two of the most talented and energetic midfielders in world football alongside him in Pogba and Vidal. Plus he has 3 centre backs and not just 2 for cover.
For me, I’m happy playing just Stevie as a quarterback against weak opposition, but against the very top teams I think another powerful midfielder with energy and defensive nouse alongside our Captain can be a good idea.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
ALl guys the system we are playing is the one were a playing that is costing us .u find all our full backs are on attack the rear guard is left with three man that exposes our defence we need a person who can stop authority in the centre.javier marines would do so.emre can would do good couz can play several positons which would be our advantage.
I like the article, but here’s what I’ll add, we need a dominant midfielder who’ll be able to attack and defend, Javi martinez comes to mind, toni kroos or strootman if actually rodgers wants world class like he promised! Then to get a balance he’d need henderson as the attacking midfielder for his box to box running and creativity! Maybe rotate the midfield and I don’t expect gerrard to play many games next season, he’s 34 n needs to be managed properly
I’m a big fan of Strootman and wanted us to sign him last season when we sold Shelvey. Unfortunately he’s going to United I think. Can ticks all the boxes but we’ll have to see how he adapts to Premier league.
Lively article on our defensive woes,but i believe if we can get a good defensive midfielder or convert skartel to do the dirty job in the midfield and play kolo in central back.get an experience LB and offload glen and get a new RB or keep flagan in that role.
Thanks. We definitely need he left back you mention. At right back we have Wisdom to compete with Kelly & Flanagan with Glen. I don’t think Skrtel has the technical ability to play on midfield, even as an enforcer. The game would be too quick for him there and he’d be a liability in possession imo.