Jurgen Klopp has said that Liverpool must improve defensively if they are to regain their best form following last night’s FA Cup loss to Chelsea, their third defeat in the last four matches (as per liverpoolfc.com and shared on Twitter via @LFC).
The 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge means that the Reds have now conceded eight goals in their last four games, twice as many as they has shipped in their previous 14 matches, with their last clean sheet coming against Norwich in mid-February. [via TransferMarkt]
Jürgen Klopp acknowledged #LFC must make improvements defensively if they’re to return to top form after they were beaten by Chelsea in the #FACup. https://t.co/hbC9CYdOYY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 3, 2020
He told liverpoolfc.com: “It went our way for so long because we defended outstandingly. Usually you don’t get a lot of chances against us and stuff like this, but now we have to admit that in the last three games – [maybe] four – we have conceded absolutely too many goals, that’s true.” Klopp added: “I see them numbers, I know them, that’s not cool. We don’t want to concede that many, it’s not that we don’t want to score again.”
However, it isn’t just defensively that Liverpool’s form has deteriorated of late. They have failed to score in three of their last four matches and have just five goals in the six games they have played since thrashing Southampton 4-0 at the start of February. The 3-2 win over West Ham is the only match in that time in which they have found the net more than once. [via TransferMarkt]
These Reds fans on Twitter feel that Klopp is wrong to simply pinpoint the defensive decline as a reason for the team’s loss in form:
We need to improve everywhere
— Jay ? (@jaydenI998) March 3, 2020
Man seems to forget that we just can’t score goals no more though.
— Hairy Macancheese (@macncheese065) March 3, 2020
not just defensively, we have also been struggling to break parked the bus teams and score so that too
— Vik?? (@LFCVik) March 4, 2020
Defence not perfect but not responsible for midfield and attack constantly losing the ball.
— Chris Gollop (@ChrisRGollop) March 3, 2020
Defensively? We didn’t have a shot on target in the second half!!! Best form of attack is defence. We need to stop giving it to the wing back every single time
— LFC_000 (@LFC_000) March 4, 2020
More like in attack! Toothless at the moment
— Marcus Bridgland (@MarcusBridgland) March 3, 2020
Defensive? Also try to remember the game is about scoring goals too. Last ones I remember is scoring were gifted to us by Fabianski
— BarryBlue84© (@BarryBlue84) March 3, 2020
Everything Klopp says and does is solely focused on defense…….offense has been their issue most of the year regardless of the positive results.
— JWC292 (@jwc292) March 3, 2020
Liverpool fans, what did you make of Klopp’s assessment of the team’s downturn in form? Where do you think the main issue lies? Have your say by commenting below!
