Former Liverpool ace Jamie Carragher has claimed current boss Jurgen Klopp would do well to take a leaf out of Rafa Benitez’s book – defensively at least.
The pundit was talking ahead of our clash with Manchester United tomorrow, which will be the biggest game of our season so far.
United have conceded two goals in the Premier League, while we’ve shipped 12 – which suggests an enormous problem with our backline.
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In the summer, we didn’t buy a new goalkeeper, new centre-back or a new right-back (after hearing of Nathaniel Clyne’s injury) and the left-back we signed – Andrew Robertson – rarely makes the matchday squad.
But it’s Klopp’s offensive tactics rather than just the personnel which causes issues.
Under both Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, playing for a clean-sheet was an option, Carra claims.
“I played in teams under Houllier and Benitez who were a lot more defensive thinking,” he told Sky Sports, cited by the Sport Review.
“Sure, we weren’t as good on the eye as this Liverpool team.
“But you’d have in your mind that you’re going away from home and you’re coming with a clean sheet.
“You’d be always switched on defending.”
In many ways, Carra has a point, but we can remember both the Houllier and Benitez eras well and fans consistently criticised the pair for negative tactics.
However, it did win us trophies – something Klopp probably needs to start doing either this season or the next.
A win against United on Saturday would be a much needed boost, anyway, considering the team has won just one game in six.