Lucas has been in fine form for Liverpool since her return to the first team
Liverpool’s defence has been a joke most of this season.
Rival fans have mocked our individual errors, pundits have lambasted our defensive players and analysts have criticised our disorganisation,
However, in the last month, writing prior to the 1st leg of the Chelsea semi-final, Liverpool have had the best defensive record in January. In fact since our last defeat, the painful 3-0 loss at Manchester United, Liverpool have conceded only 7 goals in 8 games in all competitions.
Now that’s not outstanding, but last season Liverpool conceded 50 goals in 38 games, an average of 1.31 goals per game. Since our last defeat we’re averaging 0.88 per game conceded, which is around 50% better than last season. That the run also includes 3 clean sheets gives even more cause for optimism.
So why the improvement?
Emre Can has been a real revelation playing in the back-3 since before Christmas
No doubt the 3-4-3 has a lot to do with it. While last season when the team had to defend against counter-attacks we were invariably left with the 2 centre-backs and Gerrard trying to cover. Now we are left with 3 centre-backs and Lucas covering.
Whether we play a back four or three, the fullbacks or wing-backs are always advanced to provide width, especially since most of our attacking midfielders like Coutinho & Lallana like to come infield. Furthermore, if one centre-back presses an attacker loitering in between the lines, there are still two other centre-backs to cover him. There are many such aspects that make us more solid, this present system clearly has benefits.
I’ve spoken about the 3-4-3 before, so I don’t want to concentrate on that further. However I do want to highlight the contributions of the three players who, for me, have made this system work.
Brendan Rodgers has said how pleased he’s been about the return of Liverpool’s “identity” and that it has less to do with the system and more to do with the players finding form. Well, the defence similarly is just as reliant on picking the right players in form, something that Rodgers failed to do for much of the first part of the season despite ample evidence to guide him.
Lucas Leiva, Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can have all been under utilised until recently. In fact a strong case can be made that if it wasn’t for the injuries to Joe Allen, Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson the three would still not be playing.
Sakho has also benefited from the additional support since his first-team return
Lucas for me is integral to the system and our improvement in form. Of our 22 Premier League games this season, in the 12 games with Lucas we’ve averaged 2.25 points per game, in the 10 we’ve played without Lucas we’ve averaged just 0.80 points per game. This is incredibly telling. His first thought is to sense and snuff out danger, and his calmness in possession, tactical knowledge and leadership skills are all a big plus.
Mamadou Sakho’s career has also taken an upswing. After storming out of Anfield after being dropped from a match day squad for Lovren with Toure (who had just played extra time in a Cup game and is 33 years old) on the bench, he got an unfortunate injury that kept him out for weeks. Since his return Sakho has been excellent, winning tackles, headers and snuffing out attacks. His fast, high tempo passes forward into the midfield have also helped us build attacks, as with Moreno’s goal against Swansea.
Martin Skrtel has perhaps been the most improved defender since the back-3 switch
Emre Can, who has impressed every time he has played in whichever role he has been picked, is the third key player in our defensive revival. Despite great performances against Madrid and Chelsea he was mysteriously dropped, but since coming into the side against Burnley at half-time, he has been brilliant. His strength, power and pace have helped him defend. But it is his composure when defending and when in possession that has been remarkable, given he has only just turned 21. He looks to be the player that Dejan Lovren was thought to be. In the future he may move into midfield, but for the time being he is rightly keeping the Croatian out of the team.
These three players have been the base of our improved defensive performances. And their presence helps others, like Skrtel, do better as well. While Brendan Rodgers can be criticised for not playing them more earlier in the season, it is to his credit that he looks to have learned his lesson and continues to play them now.
Long may that continue.
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