Topic: Liverpool's defence - Giraffes, Walls and Automobiles

[rushyman]

Must buy a CB now

No question

[Redman78]

We really miss VVD/Gomez being able to build out from the back. It's clear that Phillips isn't great at long balls / fizzing passes to the feet. Williams is a bit better but still clearly quite young. Fabinho is good at it but his passing ability is much better suited when he's playing the 6.

I think we miss that more than VVD/Gomez as defenders personally.

Good points. Although I'd say just as crucial, if not more so is that we are not playing as high up the field as we did due to the injuries and you can see also see that maybe the midfield aren't playing with the same freedom as they normally would, knowing that they have CB's with the required quality and recovery pace behind them.

[BassTunedToRed]

Here are the records of Liverpool's 14 different centre-back pairings this season, if you're interested.

[killer-heels]

That Van Dijk/Gomez combo is a bit shit, isnt it.

[Samie]

Must buy a CB now

No question

Happy new year mate. 

Liverpool have completed the signing of 16-year-old defender Stefan Bajcetic from Celta Vigo for €250,000 (£224,000). [@TheAthletic- @CaoimheSport]

[farawayred]

That Van Dijk/Gomez combo is a bit shit, isnt it.

Was about to post that...

Those 7 Villa goals throw everything out of whack.

[BassTunedToRed]

Was about to post that...

Those 7 Villa goals throw everything out of whack.

Villa only account for five of them... Arsenal two (CS and league), Leeds three.

[Dave McCoy]

The sample sizes are so small that you could really declare it means something or nothing and there would be no difference  When I watch the games all I can say is that as an athlete neither Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips are at the level as the rest of the squad and they're probably not PL level.  Should 45 or 90 minutes where they don't give up a goal change that?

[Ratboy3G]

Here are the records of Liverpool's 14 different centre-back pairings this season, if you're interested.

Cheers for sharing, Andrew 👍

[UNO]

Our best pairing, VVD and Matip, only played 11 minutes this season!

[PoetryInMotion]

The sample sizes are so small that you could really declare it means something or nothing and there would be no difference  When I watch the games all I can say is that as an athlete neither Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips are at the level as the rest of the squad and they're probably not PL level.  Should 45 or 90 minutes where they don't give up a goal change that?

Yes

[lgvkarlos]

I think we will buy a CB in this window, we were a CB down after losing Lovren.
Under normal circumstances Fab would have been adequate cover, but after the loss of VVD, Gomez and Matip (will always miss games) we are short. I think Klopp was hoping the youngsters would be able to cover, and at first they looked like a solution and have done us proud.   
 I personally don't want to see Rhys, Billy and Nat playing the majority of the games, they are a year or so off (which is totally understandable)

[Red1976]

I doubt we will buy, or even get in on loan, a centre back / defender in the January sales. I think Klopp will keep faith in the youngsters and give them more experience in the first team. 

[Dull Tools]

Our best pairing, VVD and Matip, only played 11 minutes this season!

That's not our best pairing.

[CS111]

I don’t think any of our 2 young CB’s have enough pace to cut it long term in the prem or CL games
Both have looked hyppia slow when chasing any forward they have been up against

We would be crazy not to get someone in even on loan
If fab gets injured you could nearly write our season off

[Ipcress]

That's not our best pairing.

It seems to be the go to pairing for Klopp when both are fit. It was the starting pairing last season and the pairing he chose for the champions league final.

Not only is Matip great as a defender, he is also a threat at set pieces.

Or were you thinking Matip and Fabinho based on this season's performances? :-)

[Dave McCoy]

Yes

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[PoetryInMotion]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I'll give it to you. You can't be worse than a broken clock.

[royhendo]

I'm curious at this stage as to whether we can use Gini, Henderson or Milner in the centre back slots as cover at this point. Thiago, Ox, Keita, Jones - we do have cover in the midfield positions...

Cue rumours of Henderson starting at centre half... Klopp's Johan Cruyff moment?

[Byrneand]

I doubt we will buy, or even get in on loan, a centre back / defender in the January sales. I think Klopp will keep faith in the youngsters and give them more experience in the first team. 

I think there's actually a far bigger picture approach to everything at the club these days and so there'll be lots of factors going into this. Not least what happens at the other end of the pitch.

Personally, I'd like to see us go out and sign given Gomez and Matip's injury records.

[Bobinhood]

I'm curious at this stage as to whether we can use Gini, Henderson or Milner in the centre back slots as cover at this point. Thiago, Ox, Keita, Jones - we do have cover in the midfield positions...

Cue rumours of Henderson starting at centre half... Klopp's Johan Cruyff moment?

rumours? I've been shouting Hendo since Matip sat down.

Best man for the Job.

[RedSince86]

Can we do a double January deal for two players in the same position like we did with Dudek and Kirkland.

[robgomm]

I doubt we will buy, or even get in on loan, a centre back / defender in the January sales. I think Klopp will keep faith in the youngsters and give them more experience in the first team.

Not even just to have faith in youngsters but because we don't sign players for 6 months. We're not going to make a Steven Caulker type signing with these owners and this manager. Not doing that has worked out well for us so far so I'm not worried whether we sign a centre-back or not, to be honest. If there's one available that we're interested in for 3 or 4 years rather than months then great. But if there's not, well, we'll wait until there is.

[killer-heels]

Not even just to have faith in youngsters but because we don't sign players for 6 months. We're not going to make a Steven Caulker type signing with these owners and this manager. Not doing that has worked out well for us so far so I'm not worried whether we sign a centre-back or not, to be honest. If there's one available that we're interested in for 3 or 4 years rather than months then great. But if there's not, well, we'll wait until there is.

Klopp's press conference said that he wants one, even a short term one if possible. But simply we cannot afford one and there is also no suitable short term option available.

[Red Giant]

Huge mistake selling Coates... and Clyne!

[B0151?]

Not even just to have faith in youngsters but because we don't sign players for 6 months. We're not going to make a Steven Caulker type signing with these owners and this manager. Not doing that has worked out well for us so far so I'm not worried whether we sign a centre-back or not, to be honest. If there's one available that we're interested in for 3 or 4 years rather than months then great. But if there's not, well, we'll wait until there is.

The season we signed Caulker pretty sure we were playing Lucas at CB ahead of him. Not even sure he was making the squad apart from the first couple weeks

I don't think people realise we're more likely to do that again than play someone who isn't at our standard

Can't forget Williams and Phillips were getting played because we had no midfielders either

[B0151?]

Good to hear Matip might be back for United anyway

[lionel_messias]

Klopp's press conference said that he wants one, even a short term one if possible. But simply we cannot afford one and there is also no suitable short term option available.

It's never true to say we can't afford one, it is just an interpretation on how we move finance around. If the club needed to find £25 million for a new player, they could do this.
Hopefully, we are negotiating right now for players and this "no money" story is part of the narrative.

[mrantarctica]

It's never true to say we can't afford one, it is just an interpretation on how we move finance around. If the club needed to find £25 million for a new player, they could do this.
Hopefully, we are negotiating right now for players and this "no money" story is part of the narrative.

I think a lot of clubs think that we will buy out of desperation and splash the cash. I think JK is just dealing with that kind of feeling, however not sure if it'll actually be effective at reducing the price that clubs demand for players we really need

[Ratboy3G]

Thought I'd dig this thread out, rather than continue to see the general defence discussions going on in various different threads.
How do we think we'll go about the Leicester game at the Weekend?
Personally I think we'll perhaps see one of Hendo/Fabinho partner one of Phillips, Davies or Kabak for the next 3 games before possibly seeing a defensive partnership of two of Phillips, Davies or Kabak from the Sheffield United game towards the end of the season.
In terms of who should remain at the back, I'm edging towards keeping Henderson there with Fabinho moving into midfield. If that were to happen the it's a toss up between the three recognised centre backs as to who partners him and my money would probably be on Kabak although this is more of a gut feeling.
I would quite like to see a partnership of Kabak and Davies given a go, with both Henderson and Fabinho going back into midfield.
As for the full backs, I think it's obvious that Robbo is need of a rest but again I'm not so sure that'll happen until the next three games are out of the way and it's clear you can't just drop three new lads in together at the back.
It's gonna be interesting over the next few weeks.

[HeartAndSoul]

Can’t find the Robertson thread so thought I’d post it in here.

What’s happened to the lad? Our left hand side has been totally neutralised for months and months now. There was a point in the season when he was the only player that was showing up but can’t really remember the last time he took on his man or put on a decent cross in the box. Worrying that both him and mane are so out of form and have been for ages now. Not helping that he’s not getting a breather but klopp doesn’t seem to trust tsimikas at all.

[lionel_messias]

On this, if I had to best I'd say Ben Davies will not set foot on the field as a Liverpool player, unless it is the last game of the season and the mathematics are done. He will then be sold for a small profit.

[Kashinoda]

We could all do with a laugh:
https://twitter.com/nocontextjmatip/status/1387086721624457224?s=21

[El Lobo]

Anyone got a link or photo of Gomez and Virg training together?

[afc tukrish]

Anyone got a link or photo of Gomez and Virg training together?

https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1402639768920461322

Virj and Joe training together. 

Samie posted in the Virge thread...

[bird_lfc]

Looking at our options now compared to the tail end last season makes me realise what an amazing achievement that champions league qualification actually was

VVD, Matip, Gomez, Konate and Phillips all fit. The strength in depth is second to none and it’s shown already

[BassTunedToRed]

From @michael_reid11 on Twitter:

Liverpool have conceded just one goal from their opening five Premier League games this season.

That's #LFC's joint-lowest ever at this stage of a league season, having also only conceded one from five in 1977-78.

[Kalito]

From @michael_reid11 on Twitter:

Liverpool have conceded just one goal from their opening five Premier League games this season.

That's #LFC's joint-lowest ever at this stage of a league season, having also only conceded one from five in 1977-78.

Here's hoping for the same outcome and with a league title at the end of the season. 

[BassTunedToRed]

Here's hoping for the same outcome and with a league title at the end of the season. 

I'm afraid we finished second that year, though retaining the European Cup softened the blow!

[Kalito]

I'm afraid we finished second that year, though retaining the European Cup softened the blow!

I know, that's why I said with a league title as well!