Preston 0 - 4 Liverpool Indonesia 0 - 2 Liverpool Melbourne 0 - 2 Liverpool Thailand 0 - 3 Liverpool Now, I slated our defence as much as anyone else last season, with teams being able to just walk through us. However, we had a lot of clean sheets last season and have now finished our tour without conceding. Am I wrong, or are we improving defensively, or is it just luck?
I knew this would come up, thats why I also mentioned last season. Reina finished 2nd in clean sheets. As for those teams, of the ones who other Premier league teams played, they scored against.
Our defense wasn't so bad overall, but the goals we did concede were crucial goals which lost us points rather than turning a 3-0 into 3-1. Sloppy mistakes which cost points are far worse than sloppy mistakes which make no difference. When the majority of our goals came against teams in high scoring wins, it means that in all those close matches like City, the mistakes cost us dearly. Which is why our defense needs work.
City 2x, United home, Arsenal away, Spuds away are just a few that we had in the bag or at least the upper hand and we pissed the points away.
Those sides also scored more than us I don't think you can judge the defence on these pre-season games.
I've said before i don't think our defense is to bad, we need a more dominant aerial presence ( or skertl gets better ) and Lucas back to his best would sort allot of the issues out. I still believe the change in tactics and team focus were a determent to the back four to give the front four a better chance.
Well I personally think 4 wins without conceding on the tour is impressive, far better than the crap we served up in America last year.
The last time we had an unbeaten pre-season was 08-09. Winning is winning, it's all good for confidence, hopefully we can finish it by beating Olympiacos and Celtic.
Its certainly not a negative but I think there would have been big qiestion marks if we had conceded!
We conceded 3 goals in 5 out of 6 pre season games under Kenny Dalglish yet our defence was pretty solid that season, our attack and scoring goals was the main problem. Basically pre-season means **** all and its all about getting the players in a good condition for the first game of the season.
I can see us still having problems at set pieces. There is danger for us with the ball in the air. But that is just the way we play. We could of kept Carroll who was ecellent in defence at opposition corners and freekicks, but that does compromise the wa we play. Need our defenders to be right on it and I think they will this year. Agger is always good, Skrtel will want to prove himself and Toure is an astute signing for a couple of years.
Yes we still look a little vulnerable aerially but mingolet,so far,has looked like who keeper who is happy to come and catch/ punchi had thought in recent seasons Pepe had become hesitant in those situations and caused hesitation at the back.. My only criticism is that we occasionally stand looking at each other...as bumble would say "after you Claude" mentality. It's only a concern if we,like last season, do it in crucial games.
Might get slammed for this but thought Allen did ok and I really would like Borini to come good. His pace and movement are good. Think he needs a run in the team along with a goal or two and we may see the player who represented Italy u-21's so well
Can't wait for the season now. I'm looking forward to see how Aspas will do. Him Coutinho and Sturridge could be awesome.
