Liverpool’s horrific performance at Wembley on Sunday looks all the more embarrassing after the emergence of their shocking statistics.
Familiar defensive frailties were at a whole new level as Jurgen Klopp’s men were humiliated by Tottenham, who didn’t even need to be at their best to secure a 4-1 win.
A shambolic opening 15 minutes saw Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son punish two Dejan Lovren mistakes to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Even after Lovren was substituted in the 31st minute, the Liverpool defence showed no signs of improvement, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet reverting to the kind of performance that once saw fans demand he be sold.
Liverpool’s poor excuse for defending saw the team break a record set back in the 1964/1965 season for goals conceded after nine league games.
16 – This is the highest amount of goals Liverpool have conceded after nine top-flight games since the 1964-65 campaign (20). Sloppy.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 22, 2017
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Questions have inevitably once again been raised surrounding Klopp’s failure to acquire a new centre-back during a summer transfer window in which a partner for Joel Matip had been tipped as a priority.
The Virgil van Dijk deal didn’t work out. There was little the club could do about that after giving Southampton reason to lodge a complaint over an alleged illegal approach. Overlooking a backup, however, was inexcusable.
Tottenham boasted one of the best defensive units in the Premier League last season, and still Mauricio Pochettino strengthened with the signings of Davinson Sánchez and Serge Aurier.
The likes of Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho don’t deserve to be held back by an incompetent defence. It’s time for Klopp to make a significant change.