Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been one of the most impressive teams this season, picking up 23 points from the first 10 games to stay level on points at the top of the table with Manchester City and Arsenal early this season.
Lack of European football will certainly make them hot favorites to go all the way and lift the title this season but the game against Crystal Palace bought fourth a huge problem in the squad that Klopp needs to address and address quickly.
Goals from Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino gave the Reds all three points from the Selhurst Park as everything looked rosy in attack but it was a completely different story at the back.
Former Southampton man Dejan Lovren gave away the early goal lead taken by Can with a mediocre error at the back while bad defending from the flank got Palace back into the game for the second time as James McArthur picked up a first half brace to scare the Reds.
The offensive fluidity in the squad helped them out of the mess and gave them all three points on the night but recent comments from Jurgen Klopp reveal that he is well aware of his team’s frailties at the back.
Speaking to the media after the game against Palace, Klopp felt that it was entertaining football that Liverpool want to play and admitted that his team has a lot of improvement to do before going all the way this season.
“We entertain because the best kind of defending is keeping the ball but we had to fight Palace for every moment,” said Jurgen Klopp.
He went on to explain that the impressive second half performance that gave all them all three points came out from the fear of having to defend well after a mediocre first half.
“But I am happy with our reaction late in the second half, because the first half killed us a little after we twice led. It was so intense.”
“It was not easy any longer and I was thinking, ‘Oh my God we have to seriously defend,” he added.
Klopp also spoke about the summer buy Loris Karius and the lack of his contributions at the back for Liverpool. The manager admitted that he could do better and that his whole team should stay stronger during games to stay in the lead.
“Of course Loris can play better, the first half was not fantastic. We made two really big mistakes and another after the interval but we cannot switch on and off like machines,” the German said.
However, Klopp ended his interview saying that he and his team know the job in hand and that they are constantly working hard to improve. “I cannot find anything negative, I cannot find anything to put a finger on, I don’t expect perfect games.”
“We know we have to improve. We are a counter attacking team, the boys are really skilled. But we need to play football. We can’t just shoot and run,” he added.
It will be interesting to see if Klopp will make any changes to his side but the likes of Dejan Lovren and Loris Karius will know that they will have to improve throughout the season to stay first choice at the club.
Do you think Klopp will axe the duo in the near future?