Joel Matip says Liverpool struggle defensively firstly because of the all-action nature of English football, but also because we play such an attacking style.
The Cameroonian made his name in Germany, where football is more organised and shape more regulated, but in the Premier League, individual players and momentum swings seem to have a bigger effect.
SEE MORE:
Lovren: ‘These two guys are amazing’
This term, we’ve let in 40 Premier League goals, which is nearly twice the amount Spurs have – summing up our problem.
We’re likely to bolster our backline this summer, with Virgil Van Dijk a primary target, but the inability of Matip and his first-choice partner Dejan Lovren to stay fit also played its part. They’ve started just 14 out of 33 top flight matches alongside each other – and are yet to lose one of them.
Matip thinks the side can concede less, but has suggested Jurgen Klopp’s offensive tactics make it more tricky.
“We know that we have to improve our defence. But it’s also the style of play which makes it difficult in England,” he told SportBild, translated by Metro.
“It’s up and down all the time, and the tactical systems sometimes go to pieces. You are vulnerable, and you especially see that with teams like us who are strong going forward.
“But thank God we also score the most goals.”
We can remember times under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez where we were crying out for a more aesthetically pleasing brand of football, so we wouldn’t change anything about the way Klopp sets his teams up.
Next term, it’s about our starting XI staying fit, but if they don’t, having adequate backup players to come in and do the same job.
This season, the likes of Ragnar Klavan haven’t proved sufficient substitute defenders.