Liverpool’s attacking firepower clear but also their defensive frailties

All the transfer talk this summer has been about whether Liverpool can sign Alexander Isak but their lack of defensive solidity suggests that perhaps Marc Guehi should now become their priority.

Arne Slot needs to address Liverpool's defensive frailties sooner rather than later. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

FOR ALL THE FOCUS on Liverpool's revamped forward line, which may yet be further supplemented by Newcastle United's unhappy Swede Alexander Isak, Arne Slot knows full well that league titles are won or lost by defences.

The Dutchman inherited a world-class backline when he took over at Anfield a year ago, and ensured his men were miserly in the early months of what turned out to be a title-winning season. Liverpool did not concede once in their opening three games, all wins, and after a surprise 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest, then conceded two in the next four games. Their opening eight league games brought seven victories, with just three goals conceded, and took them to the top of the table, from where they never wavered.

Slot had the second meanest defence in the division, conceding 41 times at just over a goal per game, but nine of those came in the final four matches, after they had wrapped up the title and were coasting towards their summer holidays.

But it's already looking like a very different picture. Pegged back twice by Crystal Palace in last week's Community Shield, Liverpool conceded twice again as the unfancied Cherries picked them off with too much ease for Slot's liking. From being 2-0 ahead after 49 minutes, Liverpool looked like letting it slip when Antoine Semenyo scored twice in the space of 12 minutes to equalise, only for Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to score two late goals and complete victory for the Reds.

There was a huge sense of relief from Liverpool's fans when they scored, not least because Bournemouth looked at one point like they might take all three points. So nervous and unsettled was Liverpool's defence that Bournemouth had enough chances throughout to score more than four.

Despite the dramatic victory, expectations around Anfield will be dampened now the world has seen they are fallible at the back. Jeremie Frimpong, who has arrived to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, shares the English international's defensive frailties, and was hooked early in the second half for the second game running. Milos Kerkez, poached from Bournemouth, was also replaced long before the end, as Slot looked to stem a tide from the south coast team.

None of the defenders was faultless. Virgil Van Dijk had played David Brooks onside before he crossed for Semenyo's first, and he and Konate looked like rabbits in car headlights when the former Bristol City winger, who was the victim of racial abuse from the crowd, ran at them for his second.

Slot knows he has work to do with his defence, and he cannot say he has not been warned.

Jamie Carragher, who embodied defensive solidity when he was a player for the Reds said earlier this week, when Sky Sports launched their coverage of the new Premier League season, that he does not see a procession towards another title for the Reds, mostly because they have to assimilate the signings they have already made – and may have to fit in one or two more if Isak and Marc Guehi can be tempted away from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace respectively.

“I don't think it's inevitable that Liverpool are going to run away with the league, you know, because they've signed this player and that player and the league (title race) is over.

“History tells us it is not just about having the best players, but having the best team and getting the balance right, and last weekend it didn't quite look right.” 

At Wembley last week, Slot's new-look attack looked impressive, with Hugo Ekitike scoring early on his competitive debut, and setting up another for Cody Gakpo. Florian Wirtz showed flashes of the brilliance that prompted Liverpool to sign him for an English record fee, but as he did against Palace, the German faded and was withdrawn before the end.

All the transfer talk this summer has been about whether Liverpool can get a deal for Isak over the line, with the fee likely to break the record they set with Wirtz's signing. But the ways things are looking with Ekitike, the Reds are well set up front, but not settled at the back, and perhaps Guehi should now become their priority. The England international is in the last year of his contract so would be a free transfer next summer, when Konate is expected to leave Liverpool. The way things are going, the Reds would do well to spend the money now on Guehi and ship out Konate, or at least put the Palace man straight in ahead of him.

Liverpool still have the goal power to win games, but as it stands they do not appear to have the same solidity in defence that set them on their way to the title last season – and Slot needs to address that sooner rather than later.