Phil Thompson explains new Liverpool formation that Arne Slot has to unleash
Liverpool have kept just five clear sheets this season and the former Reds assistant manager believes that a change is required.
Phil Thompson has suggested that Arne Slot should deploy a new formation to rectify Liverpool's stuttering form.
The Reds twice threw away the lead and were held to a 3-3 draw against Leeds United last weekend. Liverpool's issues defensively were again exposed, as Ibrahima Konate gave away a careless penalty and Arne Slot's side conceded their 10th goal from a set-piece.
Liverpool have kept just five clean sheets in 23 matches so far this campaign - and have shipped 38 goals. And for those reasons, Thompson reckons that Slot should play with three centre-backs Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez in a five-man defence starting against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
What’s been said
Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, the former Reds captain and assistant manager said: “It's three games, small steps [but] too many goals have been conceded. That's the big thing and we have got to start (defending better).
“I don't know if we have come to the point where we have seriously got to think about playing three at the back, five at the back - Konate, Gomez and Virgil van Dijk - to play in there have have wing-backs.
“When I was in charge with Gerard Houillier and we were leaking loads of goals. After about a month or so, we have gone: 'We're leaking gaols, let's go to a back three, a back five just to give us some solidity. We might be coming to that point in our defence of what we need.”
Set-piece anxiety
Liverpool were in cruise control at Leeds after Hugo Ekitike fired a quickfire double in the second half. But Konate’s careless foul on Willy Gnonto gifted Leeds a penalty that was converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Anton Stach equalised moments later and despite Dominik Szoboszlai restoring the Reds’ lead, Ao Tananka netted a 96th-minute leveller from a corner.
David Thompson admitted that there is ‘anxiety’ when the Reds have to defend set-pieces. The ex-Reds midfielder said: “The positive I seen is that we controlled the game for 70 minutes, 75 minutes, 80 minutes and it was a good solid performance up until that point. I think it obviously was a lack of concentration from Konate and then it was the worrying side.
“The signs that we were ill-disciplined, not enough communication or not enough stand up and be counter; I’m going to do my job, you do your job, we all dig in, defend our box for our lives and we don’t concede anymore. That was a bit of a worry. There is anxiety around set-pieces and that needs to be addressed soon.”