8 hours ago
25
While Liverpool has picked up maximum points from matches with Bournemouth and Newcastle so far this season, Arne Slot's defense has conceded four goals in total and looked shaky from set-pieces at St James' Park.
Ahead of facing Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, there will need to be an improvement in that department if Liverpool is to win the game. Mikel Arteta's side is very proficient from dead balls and it was an area that Virgil van Dijk pinpointed while speaking to reporters earlier this week.
"If we didn't concede the set-pieces, I think it was no problem," he said. "That is the feeling that we had [vs Newcastle]. Obviously they were still trying [after Anthony Gordon was sent off] but we controlled it pretty well and kept the ball pretty well.
"We were solid. But one set piece brings them back into the game and gives them belief. The fans get behind them, and then it is game on."
Van Dijk was exceptional in winning aerial duels on that occasion and will need to perform similarly this weekend. And those around him will need to quickly step up.
"It’s not just an issue with the defense, even though it’s evident Milos Kerkez and in particular, Ibrahima Konate, are struggling at present," Reds legend John Aldridge wrote in his Liverpool ECHO column.
"Both were poor for the goals. We’ve already seen signs Kerkez can struggle at the far post perhaps because of his height, but he really has to try to head the ball rather than turn and let Bruno Guimaraes head it in. That’s so poor.
"The second Newcastle goal was even worse, the kind of goal you’d fume about conceding at schoolboy level.
"A big goalkeeper punt forward, Konate turns his head not really want to head the ball, Dan Burn flicks it on and William Osula touches it in. It’s as bad as it gets.
"The annoying thing is there were lots of other good things defensively, and going forward our goals were well-worked, particularly the winner, where the build-up was sublime.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"There’s so much to applaud offensively but defensively — such as consistently keeping a high line — the basics aren’t quite there yet."
Liverpool could bring Andy Robertson back into the team for the game with Arsenal, though the Scotland captain had some shaky moments of his own when he was first-choice last season.
It is also trying to do a deal to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace which could add some further competition at center-back for Konate. Eighteen-year-old recent signing Giovanni Leoni is more one for the future.
For now, it seems likely that Kerkez and Konate will need to find a way of dealing with aerial duels better themselves, with both players having huge potential to substantially improve.
English (US) ·