Ignoring corners, has our defense improved

Here is a new debate on our defense.

In every game we seem to get screwed over by our failure to defend set pieces. It is the thorn in our side. But during Rodgers campaigns the goals we conceded seemed a lot more varied. We were **** at defending set pieces, but our defense also messed up a lot in open play to, failing to deal with crosses.

Klopp has not had it easy at the back with a big injury crisis. Every single one of our CB's has missed a period through injury since Klopp came in. This has meant Klopp has not been able to pick a consistent pairing.

The most present CB under Klopp has been Sakho, who most would agree is among our best players. His most successful partner under Klopp has been Lovren, who we must all admit has improved.

Since arriving Klopp has had our back 4 playing in a high line, which has suited Sakho and Lovren a lot more, making the pair appear more comfortable and our defense more balanced.

Things are still sloppy, but aybe not as messy as they previously were under Rodgers.

Lovren won our December player of the month but was unfortunately injured and is yet to return.

So ignoring our failings with set pieces, has our defense actually improved since Klopp arrived?

 

No. It's got worse. Close thread

 

That is an option in the poll.

 

I think it has gotten better in open play but set pieces are worse.

Bar yesterday, we aren't being cut open as much so I think there is a little improvement.

But still a lot of work needed.

 

Same/worse. Our reluctance to just clear the ball has often been our downfall, look at some of the goals vs Arsenal, some of the goals yesterday and plenty others. Taking away set pieces, we have FB's who bomb forward and have to rely on pace to get back, then we have CM's who fail to track runners which leaves our CB's exposed led out of position themselves.

We have Sakho who plays aggressively, which is absolutely fine when he's having a stormer, when he's off the pace though we're ripped to shreds as he chases the ball, the FB's are often nowhere and it leaves a vulnerable space in behind. Add to the fact we have a keeper who is glued to the line and not commanding a box, overall it's just a disaster to waiting to happen and easily exploited the majority of time.

Obviously we do press the ball better, that's the one thing that has improved. The only CB that's really flourished under Klopp is Lovren, and that's because he sticks to what he first and foremost should do - defend. It needs a lot of work here, I think, for me, we should play to our strengths, accept to SOME EXTENT that our defence will be weak (at the moment) regardless and at least play some attacking football with it like we did yesterday.

It's a mixture of problems, immobility and unwillingness to track runners in the CM makes us far easier to be "got at", I think in the Summer Klopp will look for a DM.

 

Hard to tell I guess...

Teams might be targeting set pieces and crossing the ball even more than they usually would have done... might make it seem like our defending against teams trying to tear through our defence is better, when in fact it's just opposition aren't using that as a way to score against us.

 

Set pieces/individual errors just as bad. Open play/team setup improved.

Most of it is that he #luckedout with Skrtel being injured though.

 

If half the players are not dozing their basic jobs no manager can do much except replace them.

Tours and shako were awful.

Can lucks and headerson. ... hmmmmm

I'd be shocked if changes are not made unless of course Allen and caulker are actuallying worse

 

Worse obviously. Did anyone watch yesterday? Not closing down a corner against Mancs, the Arsenal game? Can't wait to get Skrtel and Flanno back

 

**** you and everyone you love

Flanno - Sakho - Lovren - Clyne #noneshallpass

 

We are set up better but there is a lot of nervousness when the ball is lobbed into the box, that's down to organisation between defenders and confidence.

 

Manning up in other words.

The state of their 4th was abysmal.

Fine be true was a fool to get offside but he actually kicked it away and our lot failed to get a line and the complete bulls hit in not winning a simple defensive header was woeful.

 

If Lovren and Sakho can get a run of fitness they must get a long run of games to see what happens. But DM and GK is a huge problem that makes their job harder.

 

I think the op question is difficult to answer when our "best" player skertl is out

We've got a couple of beached whales at cb right now by the look of the Norwich game... far far far too many basic errors being made.

 

We got ripped to shreds down our left hand side yesterday. They played a simple triangle at least eight times against us, it was embarrassing.

IMO the FBs are getting too far forward too quickly. They need to be advancing with the team, not just bombing forward and playing as wingers!

It's a bloody team game!

 

They have been positions very very high at times under Klopp. I think it's not necessary too.

 

This^
You'd have thought they'd have ****ing twigged after the third time wouldn't you?

In answer to the OP, no it hasn't. As Skrtel used to get the blame for everything from own goals to world poverty it's surprising that we're not even slightly better without him- though I'm sure someone will rush to tell me how it's still magically his fault.
I've already said in the match thread that if we're going to play a high press with the FBs they really have to know when to do it intelligently because if they're awol we're always going to be exposed, and we're always going to concede too many.

Having said that, there's still more to it, because even when we pack the box at set pieces we're still hopeless.

A lot of work to be done.

 

The reason we haven't improved without Skrtel is because we've replaced him with Toure or Lovren.

It's like saying Benteke is sh*t but let's replace him with Mario.

We need to buy a quality RCB.

 

Mignolet hasn't saved a shot in 206 mins of PL action conceding 4 goals in that time. Hes also conceded 7 goals from the last 7 shots faced.

 

You've dumped ilori.....

And you've got your insult the wrong way round... don't worry I've fixed it all up now.