Liverpool’s defensive fragility has been discussed quite in depth over the summer following the Reds just missing out on claiming their first title of the Premier League era last season.
In a campaign that saw the Anfield outfit push eventual champions Manchester City to the final day, Brendan Rodgers side scored an impressive 101 goals, but conceded a very disappointing 50 at the other end as the Citizens claimed the glory. While it’s obviously not all doom and gloom around Liverpool with the club qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2009, there’s a real sense that their failings at the back saw them miss their best opportunity in recent memory to end the season at the top of the league — something defender Martin Skrtel blames on thole team and not just the back four.
“Obviously it hurt but it’s not only about the back four, it’s about the team and defending as a group” the Slovakian said of the Reds missing out on the title. “Because we conceded 51 goals, some people are blaming the back four, but it isn’t just about the back line, it is about defending as a team and that’s the big thing that we need to improve.”
Liverpool have brought in three defenders this summer in an attempt to stem the tide with center-half Dejan Lovren making a big money move from Southampton and young fullbacks Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo coming from Sevilla and Atletico Madrid respectively. Despite the additions, Skrtel has called on the team to take responsibility and focus a bit more on the back.
“We are a team that likes to attack and a lot of players like to get forward so that is maybe something that we need to work on because not everyone can go forward, sometimes you have to defend too,” he continued. “We’ll see anyway, we will work on it and try to improve it. As players we are not happy with that record but we know the direction we were going in as a team last season and we will try to improve on that in the new one.”
