Liverpool’s defence shambolic

The Merseyside Derby on Saturday pointed out the major flaw in the Liverpool team: the defence.

In a game where Liverpool’s forward men played well scoring three goals, the defenders once again let the side down with their poor performance, was it not for Mignolet on the goal Everton would certainly have taken all three points.

The three goals conceded were all because of defensive errors, the first one occurred when no Liverpool defender went up to win the header allowing the ball to be knocked down and bounce into the path of Mirallas, who poked the ball home, it was the thing of nightmares for any defensive coach.

The second goal was also caused by bad defending, as the ball was played across the box, all Liverpool players rushed towards the goal line leaving Lukaku completely free at the penalty spot to put the ball in the back of the net, someone simply staying on Lukaku could have prevented the goal and certainly would have made it harder for him.

Goal number three was another defensive mishap, this time a result of poor organisation, no one can give out if Lukaku beats his man in the air and scores because that is his speciality, but when the person he is being marked by is Glen Johnson, not a big man like Agger or Skrtel, serious questions need to be asked.

Liverpool have had a great start to the season but the defence has threatened to undermine it, Sakho came into the club for a big fee but is yet to show his quality and the once reliable partnership of Agger and Skrtel, on yesterdays evidence, is not as solid as before.

Lucas’s poor form in recent times has left the back-four exposed and was it not for Simon Mignolet in the goal Liverpool would certainly not have had as good a start to the season as they have.

Brendan Rodgers will have to work very hard on his defence if he wants to be a serious contender for the Premier League, because with Sturridge and Suarez doing the business at the other end, the defenders are the only ones leaving the side down.