Liverpool’s defensive issues date back to last season

Roy Keane has claimed that ‘the most important drawback’ at Liverpool proper now could be one which stems again to the latter a part of final season.

Though the Reds returned to profitable methods in model on Wednesday evening by thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, it was the eighth successive match during which they didn’t preserve a clear sheet, with 18 objectives conceded in 13 video games throughout all competitions.

The Premier League champions have had solely two shoutouts to date on this marketing campaign (1-0 wins over Arsenal and Burnley), in comparison with 9 for the Gunners in a dozen matches.

2025/26 stats
Video games performed
Targets conceded
Clear sheets

Liverpool
13
18
2

Arsenal
12
3
9

Keane: Liverpool’s defensive issues are nothing new

On the newest Follow Soccer podcast, Keane claimed that Liverpool’s defensive frailties date again to the latter a part of final season, once they had been largely glossed over by advantage of getting received the top-flight title with 4 video games to spare.

The ex-Manchester United captain mentioned: “I believe clearly the most important drawback is defensively. Going ahead, there’s a objective menace. The lads are just a little bit off, however they’ve come again and so they’ve bought high quality.

“Defensively, and we mentioned it in the beginning of the season, going again to the Group Protect, they’re giving up possibilities. You’re going, ‘Yeah, however they’re scoring, they’re scoring’, and now that’s dried up*.

“They’re nonetheless giving up a great deal of possibilities, a great deal of objectives, even in the direction of the tip of final season. That’s the most important challenge.”

(*Podcast was recorded on Wednesday earlier than the 5-1 win in Frankfurt)

Liverpool have to tighten up, however there have been encouraging indicators midweek

When together with the ultimate eight video games of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Liverpool have conceded 32 objectives in 21 matches and saved simply three clear sheets in that point.

Admitted 9 of the concession tally got here after the Premier League title had been secured and gamers may subconsciously have switched off, nevertheless it nonetheless highlights a worrying development that Arne Slot will probably be craving to arrest, beginning with the go to to Brentford tomorrow evening.

Keane’s misgivings concerning the Reds’ defence echo these of Jamie Carragher, who warned that the champions merely received’t retain their title this time period until they tighten up considerably on the again.

What may present the top coach with some encouragement is that the tally of 0.3 xG in opposition to in Frankfurt was Liverpool’s second-lowest of the season and was a marked enchancment on the 4 video games that they’d misplaced previous to midweek (cumulative xG in opposition to of 6.9, by way of FBref).

Slot received’t wish to curb the attacking menace that his assortment of top-class forwards can present, but when there was a approach to sacrifice a few of that in favour of being extra resolute on the different finish of the pitch, we’d be a lot nearer to reaching an excellent stability which’d get our pursuit of trophies again on monitor.

You possibly can watch Slot’s full pre-Brentford press convention by way of Empire of the Kop on YouTube: