Future of our defence

[dmishra]

Both personnel wise and tactically.

Are we going to see us persist with this three at the back thing? Or will we revert back to 4 once Sturridge is back?

Can to continue at the back in a back 4?

Sakho or Lovren?

Are we again back to having Skrtel as our best CB for the foreseeable future?

And what of Ilori and Wisdom?

Right back – I’m assuming Johnson isn’t getting an extension. Is everyone comfortable with having just Manquillo and Flanagan?

Left back - Is everyone comfortable with Moreno's defensive prowess?

I think our defensive personnel is in a complete mess frankly (and that's not counting the goalkeeping situation). Too many options, and no clear first choices. I really don’t know what’s going to give. And while Rodgers might still sort things out at the other end of the pitch, I can’t see us winning anything unless we sort the defence out.

 

[Brizzle]

If we play 3 at the back and a proper DM then I think Moreno is perfectly adequate defensively. In a back 4 with an immobile "DM" then he is not the one.

I can't see us buying another CB for a window or two now. In the summer Wisdom and Ilori will return and I think we'll continue 3 at the back for quite some time. It is working well.

Right back - more than happy with Manquillo and Flanagan. Would like Johnson shot of as soon as possible.

If we do move back to a back 4 then I wouldn't be surprised to see Can take up the DM role as for a lot of the Swansea match he was being sought out when we had possession like Gerrard used to be when he'd slot in like a 3rd CB.

 

[Mystic]

Skrtel isn't our best defender, Sakho is.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Regardless of personnel, the defence will never be water tight like it was under Rafa/GH.

The best we can hope for is the Individual mistakes are reduced.

We have seen some improvement in this in recent weeks....

 

[Judge Jules]

If we play 3 at the back and a proper DM then I think Moreno is perfectly adequate defensively. In a back 4 with an immobile "DM" then he is not the one.

I can't see us buying another CB for a window or two now. In the summer Wisdom and Ilori will return and I think we'll continue 3 at the back for quite some time. It is working well.

Right back - more than happy with Manquillo and Flanagan. Would like Johnson shot of as soon as possible.

If we do move back to a back 4 then I wouldn't be surprised to see Can take up the DM role as for a lot of the Swansea match he was being sought out when we had possession like Gerrard used to be when he'd slot in like a 3rd CB.

Good post, agree with most of it. Disagree somewhat over Moreno's defending which, one on one, isn't at all bad. The time when problems arise is when the overall system fails to take account of the fact that he's told to bomb forward at every opportunity, and that's not his fault.

 

[dmishra]

If we play 3 at the back and a proper DM then I think Moreno is perfectly adequate defensively. In a back 4 with an immobile "DM" then he is not the one.

I can't see us buying another CB for a window or two now. In the summer Wisdom and Ilori will return and I think we'll continue 3 at the back for quite some time. It is working well.

Right back - more than happy with Manquillo and Flanagan. Would like Johnson shot of as soon as possible.

If we do move back to a back 4 then I wouldn't be surprised to see Can take up the DM role as for a lot of the Swansea match he was being sought out when we had possession like Gerrard used to be when he'd slot in like a 3rd CB.

5 games since we started using it, and we've kept only 1 clean sheet (Burnley). I think it's more a case of us having found form in attack rather than us improving defensively.

I think Rodgers switched to this formation realising that if Sterling is pushed up front, the only way the side gets width is through wing-backs. I don't think this formation is a viable long-term formation. Especially when Sturridge returns and we want to play the diamond again.

I also don't think Manquillo and Flanagan can really be wing-backs. Henderson's certainly not a wing-back either.

 

[Judge Jules]

Excellent post. Not sure I agree about Manquillo, but I do agree with everything else.