defence

Daniel Sturridge – The Phantom Menace

Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal: a pulsating match; end to end, with chances galore; a "great advert for the Premier League". All these English football cliches, and more, could've been, and were, used to reflect on Liverpool's latest home match, under the floodlights at Anfield on Wednesday evening. A crackling pre-game atmosphere was pitched up several notches...

Who is Reds’ Target Sam Byram? Interview With a Leeds Fan

Leeds United full-back Sam Byram is the target of much interest from many Premier League clubs. The right-back has less than six months left on his current deal and the Premier League vultures are circling the 22 year old. Linked with moves to Liverpool, Everton and West Ham it seems the Essex born defender is destined...

Liverpool’s Rearguard – Who Should Play Over The Busy Period?

Fourteen league matches into the season, fifteen goals conceded, the largely criticised defence has improved over the last few weeks, but we still see individual errors. But come January, Jon Flanagan and Mamadou Sakho should be fit enough to return to the playing field.  This article looks at the best defensive lineup Liverpool can...

Square Pegs in Round Holes for Klopp?

One of the biggest issues that Klopp faces this season is how to fit in all of his best players into the team; his philosophy requires width, pace, penetration and a strong four-man defence, he also likes to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation that allows for quick counter-attacks with width, and offers rigidity and solidity...

Mamadou Sakho – Laying the Foundations

A friend recently asked if I had a monthly reminder on my phone to put a tweet out about Sakho only having x amount of months left on his current deal. Sad to say I had to cancel that reminder now. Myself and many more Liverpool fans got their wish on Friday when it was...

Liverpool’s Apple Pie Defence Lacking Basic Instinct

I should've been mad but that anger and resentment after a humbling loss subsides when it becomes a weekly occurrence, and it has with the Reds as of late. In the last 12 games we've conceded 2 and 3 to Manchester United, 3 to Crystal Palace, 3 to West Ham, 4 to Arsenal and...

Liverpool FC 15/16 | 5 Strategic Keys to Champions League Football

PART 1 OF 2 Preface As Liverpool fans close a chapter on last season, many are left to ponder if the club will come to rue a missed and golden opportunity, which in the grander context of British and European football, may well be the start of a new challenge in the English Premier League for...

Does Milner’s arrival condemn Can to another year in defence?

For the most part of the 2014-15 Premier League season, Emre Can was selected as part of a three-man defensive unit, despite playing in midfield for the majority of his career. The 21-year-old, who made 40 appearances in his maiden season at Anfield in all competitions, is neat and tidy in possession, while he isn’t afraid...

A Review of the Liverpool Defence

A statistical review of goals conceded A disappointing season came to an abrupt end against Stoke with a defensive performance that made my Sunday league side look as solid as Chelsea. Yet in the aftermath of the defeat it seems the popular consensus is the attack is the main reason we didn't finish top 4 this...

Clean Sheets Don’t Hide The Dirt in Defence for Liverpool

"Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed" - Irene Peter. Defensive frailties have been at the forefront of Brendan Rodgers' reign as Liverpool manager so far. The goals of last season papered over last season's cracks and despite the improvement since Christmas 2014, Liverpool are only 4 goals better off defensively than they...