Liverpool's defensive problems are well documented this season, and with over 25 individual errors leading to opposition goals, it's an issue that may have already cost the club any real chance of winning the Premier League. Chelsea, on the other hand, have a comparatively imperious defensive record, and Jamie Redknapp believes that LFC would be a shoo-in for the league title if John Terry et al were turning out for the Reds.
With only 22 goals conceded in 29 league games, Chelsea are seven points clear at the top of the table, and in his column for Sky Sports this week, Redknapp hailed the Blues' back-line. He enthused:
"Mourinho has settled on Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta and Ivanovic.
"The latter two could play centre-back as well, if needed. They're very strong and don't bomb on like full-backs at some other sides.
"They're defenders first and attackers second. Liverpool would win the title if they had Chelsea's backline".
That defensive quartet cost just £23m to assemble, which is only a few million more than Liverpool paid for Mamadou Sakho last summer. LFC's team with Terry et al:
----------------- Mignolet
Ivanovic --- Cahill -- Terry --- Azpilicueta
------------- Gerrard -- Hendo
---------------- Coutinho
------- Suarez ---------- Sterling
---------------- Sturridge
Redknapp is probably right: Chelsea have conceded fifteen fewer goals than Liverpool, so if the Reds had that back-line this season, the team would probably be ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table right now.
It's always the same old story, though: since 1990, Liverpool have rarely been able to find a successful balance between defence and attack. It's either amazing defence, but issues in attack (Houllier, and at times, Benitez); or superb attack, but dodgy defence (Evans/Rodgers).
To be fair, both Rafa Benitez (in 2008-9) and Gerard Houllier (2001-2002) came close to achieving the right balance, but there always seemed to be a slight weakness in either defence or attack that sabotaged their efforts.
One thing's for sure (IMO) - If Evans had the luxury of Houllier's Sami-Hyypia-led defence between 1995 and 1997, LFC would've won the league title at least one. Damn you, David James, Neil Ruddock, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, and Phil Babb!
Th ironic thing this season is that, for the first time, Liverpool may be able to overcome poor collective defensive performance and actually win the league. It's a long-shot, but given the sheer brilliance of the club's attack, it's a definite possibility.
I'm not sure about having Ivanovic in the team, though. The club needs Luis Suarez 100% focused on scoring goals, not his next meal...
Author: Jaimie K
With only 22 goals conceded in 29 league games, Chelsea are seven points clear at the top of the table, and in his column for Sky Sports this week, Redknapp hailed the Blues' back-line. He enthused:
"Mourinho has settled on Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta and Ivanovic.
"The latter two could play centre-back as well, if needed. They're very strong and don't bomb on like full-backs at some other sides.
"They're defenders first and attackers second. Liverpool would win the title if they had Chelsea's backline".
That defensive quartet cost just £23m to assemble, which is only a few million more than Liverpool paid for Mamadou Sakho last summer. LFC's team with Terry et al:
----------------- Mignolet
Ivanovic --- Cahill -- Terry --- Azpilicueta
------------- Gerrard -- Hendo
---------------- Coutinho
------- Suarez ---------- Sterling
---------------- Sturridge
Redknapp is probably right: Chelsea have conceded fifteen fewer goals than Liverpool, so if the Reds had that back-line this season, the team would probably be ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table right now.
It's always the same old story, though: since 1990, Liverpool have rarely been able to find a successful balance between defence and attack. It's either amazing defence, but issues in attack (Houllier, and at times, Benitez); or superb attack, but dodgy defence (Evans/Rodgers).
To be fair, both Rafa Benitez (in 2008-9) and Gerard Houllier (2001-2002) came close to achieving the right balance, but there always seemed to be a slight weakness in either defence or attack that sabotaged their efforts.
One thing's for sure (IMO) - If Evans had the luxury of Houllier's Sami-Hyypia-led defence between 1995 and 1997, LFC would've won the league title at least one. Damn you, David James, Neil Ruddock, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, and Phil Babb!
Th ironic thing this season is that, for the first time, Liverpool may be able to overcome poor collective defensive performance and actually win the league. It's a long-shot, but given the sheer brilliance of the club's attack, it's a definite possibility.
I'm not sure about having Ivanovic in the team, though. The club needs Luis Suarez 100% focused on scoring goals, not his next meal...
Author: Jaimie K
Liverpool could well have sat 10 pts clear yeah, maybe more. Alternatively, what if Suarez/Sturridge goals were coming from ours & not yours?
ReplyDeleteBottom line, squad capability, depth & a good manager are what propel a team towards title, not a particular part of outfield departments. Not surprising to see who are top 4 candidates now.
I'm expecting to see Sakho become first choice next season alongside Skrtel. Agger will play the cup games and if needed which now suits him best given his injuries. Toure may not even stay next season and if he does will be cover. I'd like to see if Kelly can make it a centre back with good future options in Ilori. A long term right sided centre back to play with Sakho is the key.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat of a fallacy this. Look at Mourinho's Chelsea. Do they ever play without to DMs? They also work very hard when not in possession especially players like Willian and Ramirez which is why they have recently got more games than Oscar and why he was willing to sell Mata. Defending is a team effort not just the defence. Having said that we have conceded far too many goals from individual errors and I would imagine that would be lessened having Chelsea's back four.
ReplyDeleteI think if we had settled back four injury free for the season we would be top of the league. Brendan has had to shuffle the back four most of season which has'n helped us. But im proud of the team the way they have coped when key players we're out injured, its a big credit to them. Keep up the good work lads. YNWA
ReplyDeleteAlso the money thing is a bit misleading. Yeah Cahil has £7m but if I remember rightly his contract was running down. Last year I think. Plus Terry coming through skews those numbers. If Terry was sold today at 23 by a club who didn't really want or need to sell, how much would he go for? A big sum no doubt.
ReplyDeleteThat is true mate. Look at the best defences in the league and ask how many different CB partnerships have you seen due to injury? I doubt it would have been six like us. That is not even mentioning using 3rd choice full backs and things like that. It's interesting to think what could have been.
ReplyDeleteAgree that chelsea have a good defense,but for me it's their mid-fielders that keep them solid,they starve teams of space and make it very difficult to get at their backline. Ramires,Matic and David Luis (when playing in the middle) are of the highest quality. They are a very compact team and not as pleasing on the eye as us, but they are very effective and will not lose many games.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
ReplyDeleteI think we should break the bank and sign Luke Shaw, as the left back position has been a problem for us for many years. I believe Shaw is destined for greatness. I'm not one for slating players, but i do believe we should move Agger,Enrique,Coates, Kelly and Cissoko on as they bring very little to the team, some due to injuries and others due to a lack of ability. A back line of Flanno,Skrtel, Sakho and Shaw has a more solid look in my opinion and also bring back Ilori,Wisdom Robinson and Mcgloughlin and they would add depth to the defense.
ReplyDeleteAgree, at times Chelsea are one of the most boring teams to watch but results are all that matters.
ReplyDeleteI think that we expose our back line as a result of our style of play.
ReplyDeleteWe essentially start at 4 in the back, but convert to 3 in the back when we go on the offensive, mainly through the counter. If you notice, we have often brought the two full backs up the pitch so high that they become wingers, and we leave the center backs plus the defensive midfielder.
Chelsea's style of play is significantly different in that regard. They leave much more protection for their back line.
Also, I think that having Cech back there is a big difference for them. Mignolet has shown good signs this year, but I feel like his voice has been lost at times and the communication has been simply poor.
Looks like you misinterpreted his comment, he simply stated you shouldn't compare sterling to Henderson because it would be like comparing Sturridge to Henderson, you wouldn't compare a defenders attacking stats with a midfielder would you?
ReplyDeleteHenderson has been a utility man more than an attacking man in any case, sterling has constantly been played further up the pitch as the majority of people have also pointed out...
Did you skim read a single sentence and get it incorrect? For shame jk, for shame.
It does help when they essentially start to time waste as soon as they take a lead.
ReplyDeleteThe difference with them is that they have so much talent that if they fall behind, they are able to press offensively.
They start to time waste during the warm up......
ReplyDeleteAnd again: I did not compare Henderson and Sterling in the article. How many times?
ReplyDeleteHendo see you at Chelsea next season, after we win the league!!! Blue is the colour, football is the game!!
ReplyDeleteIf ands and buts were candy and nuts, then every day would be Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSkrtel can't mark off the dead ball and has been to blame for 90% of goals coming from such situations. Would rather agger their any day he's a better passer of the ball than skrtel from the back too. Him and sahko would be the best combination.
ReplyDeleteMignolet has to be more vocal and commanding at the back. Screw the defenders if they don't defend properly. He is good, but too good, a Mr. Nice guy if you would like.
ReplyDeleteSo Shaw is the flavor of the month?
ReplyDeletei know, but the thing is Both are left footed and that might be Hard, i think BR should try both of them play together in the Summer International Cup and those Friendlies we play, Hope It works, Those two would be Great for us Next Season with Enrique and Johnson, or maybe if we sign Richards and Ricardo Rodrigues
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised at these comments. Redknapp is not an idiot, but these are, in my mind, idiotic comments. You can't just sub out 4 defenders and replicate what is ultimately a full team effort. Defence is NOT just the 4 guys at the back. How many times does Rodgers have to explain this before people get it? Every player on the team has defensive responsibilities and we've seen this regularly. Even Suarez and Sturridge have defensive duties, and it they don't do their job then the rest of the team have to pick up the slack. In order for us to be a better defensive team we have to improve defensively in ALL areas, not just the 4 guys at the back.
ReplyDeleteThis also completely ignores the notion of tactics. Many of these players are just doing what the boss tells them to. Sometimes they make mistakes but often they end up in difficult positions because we are simply a very attacking team. Those 73 goals are not the product of a back 4 who are focused on defence. The outside backs and massively important in how we play and without them attacking up the wings we'd not have so many goals. So quite obviously if we had more defensively minded "defenders" then we'd score less goals.
Here's the thing about Chelsea and Liverpool: before their weekend game we have a goal difference of 38 and they have a goal difference of 31. That's significant. They might have the best defence in the league but we have the best attack. An in both cases it's not just the defenders doing the defending and the attackers doing the attacking. That kind of simple minded thinking drives me spare. So for all of Chelsea's great defensive work it's Liverpool who have the better goal record. So why on earth would we want their back 4? It would hinder our attack and I have my doubts it would do much to improve our defence, because our defensive issues are tactical, not personnel related.
So yes, if we had Chelsea's defensive record and our goal scoring record then we'd be top of the league. But it's a nonsensical hypothesis. To get Chelsea's defensive record we'd have to abandon our attacking formation and therefore not score as many goals. Redknapp is living in a fantasy land which makes me think he's been playing Football Manager on the playstation a bit too much.
Yes we concede goals, a few too many at times. But is there a statistic that can highlight how many of the goals we have conceded have cost us points? Inevitably that is the issue here.
ReplyDeleteSturridge wouldn't be scoring at Chelsea. He's already tried and tested that ;)
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand why B.Rodgers very scare to try new an idea ? Tiago Ilori and Sebastian Coates not only can playing as Centreback but also at CDM or midfielder.They can save the budget if they start to get just minor chances first before gave them big duty at senior team.
ReplyDeleteWholly incorrect. Sturridge was Chelsea's (joint) top scorer the season before he came to us (11/12), and he only played half a season (due to a managerial change) and was playing out of position!!
ReplyDeleteWe need a defensive midfielder or 2. Our back line gets wholly exposed far too often.
ReplyDeleteShaw will be the flavor of many months! There will be a scramble for his signature in the summer and he'll go for big coin.
ReplyDeleteSurely Cech is a better keeper than Mignolet?
ReplyDeleteOne and Only solution to this is to buy a defensive midfielder and a center back...I am not convinced with sakho as center back....FLANAGAN,SKERTEL,STEVEN CAULKER,RICARDO RODRIGUEZ along with a Strong CDM like LARS BENDER along with Champions League Quality Goalkeeper like STEPHAN RUFFIER or KEYLOR NAVAS or VICTOR VALDEZ will sort out our defensive problems completely
ReplyDeleteI know, I was joking in light of the fact he's scoring a tonne more goals here, and that chelsea fans wanted him gone.
ReplyDeleteYet more wrong implication from your part. While any matter always has divided opinions, majority of our match goers always considered & still do that selling Sturridge was mistake & it's not from hindsight.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that Sturridge will leave has been floating around in the last 2 months prior to January & the fact he was on last year of his contract & refusing to sign a new one meant it was a matter of time.
That makes as much sense as saying Chelsea would win the title if they had our frontline. The simple fact of the matter is that if Chelsea win the title ahead of us, they will do so because they have had a record breaking season because that's what it will take to stop us. I'm positive we'll break the 80 point barrier this season, 21 points to be taken from the remaining 30. At least.
ReplyDelete