Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool FC don't need a defensive coach
Not even the world’s greatest legal minds could make a case for Liverpool’s defence at present.
The fallout from the Reds’ Champions League hiding at the hands of Real Madrid may have been dominated by a misfiring striker who foolishly embarked on some half-time shirt swapping.
But Brendan Rodgers knows that his side’s current problems run much deeper than Mario Balotelli. Asked about the dangers of the Italian frontman being made a scapegoat for the club’s underwhelming form, he quipped: “Was he playing centre-half?”
There was no shame in losing to Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded line up but it was the manner in which defeat was inflicted which was so tough for supporters to stomach.
Aside from Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning opener, Liverpool weren’t carved apart by Real’s attacking brilliance. Instead the Spaniards simply cashed in on the Reds’ glaring defensive frailties as Karim Benzema twice punished some woeful marking.
It’s a habit Liverpool seem unable to kick. Last season problems at the back were largely papered over by the club’s array of firepower. But with Luis Suarez gone and Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table, the goals have dried up and there is no hiding place for their porous rearguard.
In a dozen games in all competitions so far this season Simon Mignolet has been beaten on 18 occasions. His solitary clean sheet came in the win at White Hart Lane back in August.
The personnel in front of the Belgian may change but the mistakes just keep on happening. Rodgers has demanded they get back to basics.
“This has been the frustration throughout the season,” Rodgers told the ECHO.
“A large number of the goals we’ve conceded have been soft. There hasn’t been a corner with a clever move that has beaten us.
“It’s been a simple ball into the box and we haven’t defended it through either the first contact or by letting people come across us.
“The second and third goals against Real were disappointing. That’s seven, arguably eight, goals we’ve conceded from dead balls so far.
“We need to be more competitive and more aggressive in those situations. They are scrappy goals we’re giving away and you can’t do that at this level.”
Some fans have touted the idea of Rodgers bolstering his staff with the appointment of a defensive coach but the Northern Irishman insists that isn’t necessary.
The manager says all Liverpool need is time on the training ground to put things right. However, there are currently precious few opportunities to get that work done.
Tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Hull City at Anfield is the third of seven games in the space of just 21 days. Not since August have Liverpool had a full week to prepare for a match.
“It’s not a case of needing to bring in another coach, a defensive coach or anything like that,” Rodgers said.
“I wouldn’t go down that route. The bottom line is our team is based on balance and at times it’s been poor. There is a collective responsibility to defend better and that’s what we have to do.
“Our problem and the issue we have which we need to find the solution for is our lack of coaching time. Take this week, we played Wednesday night, the players physically recover on Thursday, and that leaves us with only a short period of time on the training field before we’ve got the game on Saturday.
“Over the last 18 months we have seen the developments of this team given coaching time. It’s really not rocket science.
“The introduction of all our new players and having limited coaching time has caused us issues. We need to be better.”
Dejan Lovren, a £20million signing from Southampton this summer, was supposed to be Jamie Carragher’s successor and the leader Liverpool’s backline so desperately needed.
However, the Croatian has endured a baptism of fire with an alarming lack of communication and understanding between him and centre-back partner Martin Skrtel.
In total Rodgers has spent around £66million on defensive reinforcements since his arrival at Anfield. Last year’s swoop for Mignolet (£9m), Mamadou Sakho (£18m), Tiago Ilori (£7m), Kolo Toure (free) and Aly Cissokho (loan) was followed this summer by deals for Lovren, Alberto Moreno (£12m) and Javier Manquillo (loan).
None of them have firmly established themselves at Anfield and doubts about Mignolet’s long-term future remain - despite the club calling off their pursuit of free agent Victor Valdes.
France international Sakho, who has been out of favour, is on the comeback trail after a thigh problem but won’t be considered for the visit of Hull.
Rodgers has told his defenders they need to accept the stick which has come their way and focus their minds on answering the critics with improved performances.
“There is no point focusing on any one individual,” Rodgers added.
“We win and lose as a team. It’s a collective effort we need in order to succeed.
“If there is any blame, we all understand as managers and players the nature of it. Whether it’s deserved or undeserved, you don’t like criticism but you have to accept it.
“When you’re winning games, you get the praise for it. When you lose games, you won’t like the reaction so much.
“We need to reinforce the key principles and on the field we need to show that competitive spirit. Great competitors don’t get done so easily in those defensive situations.”
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