Liverpool news: “Disjointed” and “troubled” – the Reds continue to struggle defensively

Liverpool suffers defensively and this costs them points.

After eight league games last season, they had conceded just three goals – none from set-pieces – and kept five clean sheets.

So far, they have scored 11 goals, five of which have come from set-pieces, and have kept two clean sheets.

“It’s a bit disjointed,” said former Premier League striker Troy Deeney, who agreed with fellow Match of the Day pundit Shay Given that the Reds’ summer signings were too top-heavy.

The former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said the role of attacking players is also to defend because you are “defending from the front”, but that is difficult when Arne Slott doesn’t yet know his starting XI.

Liverpool’s fragility means Manchester United’s attacking trio of Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumo and Mason Mount can use their speed to their advantage and cause Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate problems.

“It was probably one of the only Liverpool games I watched where I thought Van Dijk looked troubled, especially in the first half,” former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily programme.

“That’s because he has to cover for Milos Kerkez, who I think should now come out of the team. He’s struggling and doesn’t look like he can carry a Liverpool shirt at the moment.”

“Imad [Diallo] Mbeumu was causing him a lot of problems in this regard.

“It was actually Konate who saved Van Dijk, which doesn’t happen very often. He was Liverpool’s best defender in this match.”

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