[quote]‘If you don’t concede any goals you’ll win more games than you lose.’ – Bobby Moore[/quote]
Liverpool were once built on foundations of invincibility and would be almost impossible to break down. Down the years that philosophy faded away as different managers passed through those glorious Shankly Gates, until Rafael Benitez arrived. The Spaniard managed to build a rock of a defence including the now retired pairing of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia. Our current goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, won three Golden Glove awards (awarded to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in a single Premier League season). The old days were back.
However, in the few years that have passed since Benitez’s departure, the defence has looked as leaky as a broken tap. The droplets of water from the tap dripped almost as often as a defensive mistake leading to a goal. At times last season it was horrible to watch Liverpool defend. Time and again, the back four would look nervous and disjointed. They made over 35 defensive errors, compared to just 17 in 2008/09.
With Carragher retiring and both Martin Skrtel and Sebastien Coates racing towards the exit door, Brendan Rodgers desperately needs to find adequate improvements. It is another big summer for the club after a somewhat steady season saw them finish 7th, behind Everton for the second time in succession.
The Reds have been linked with a number of defenders so far this ‘summer’, with one already arriving on a free.
Kolo Toure has left Manchester City to sign for the Merseyside club after playing at the top level of English and European football for a decade. The Ivorian won the Premier League at Arsenal – without losing a game – and won three FA Cups before his next league winners’ medal dangled around his neck at City.
He is 32 now but he has the vital experience and ability that Liverpool will miss following Carragher’s retirement. He isn’t ‘past it’ as some have suggested and he can be a perfect foil for a certain Greek who seems close to signing for the club.
Toure is also thought to be quite passionate about helping out younger players and, seeing as Liverpool’s squad is littered with youngsters, that can only be a good thing.
Another target is Greek centre half Kyriakos Papadopoulos. The young – but experienced – defender has impressed on three fronts: the Bundesliga, for the national side and, most importantly, in the Champions League. He would be a sound investment and would, surely, be the perfect no-nonsense partner for the graceful Daniel Agger.
Two other defenders have caught the club’s eye too: Tiago Ilori and Lucas Digne. Both have impressed at their current clubs and have their whole careers ahead of them. There is an ocean of potential in both players’ lockers that can easily be developed.
They won’t be easy to sign but, should they be acquired, Liverpool’s defence will be better off. Should Rodgers have Agger, Toure, Papadopoulos, Ilori, Andre Wisdom and Martin Kelly to call upon to play central defence, he’ll have a strong platform from which to build the team from the back. A pairing of Agger and Papadopoulos would automatically reduce the amount of goals scored, and as we all know, that’s a true sign of a strong side.
The squad had no problems scoring last season but struggled defensively. If Rodgers addresses this in the right way (by signing players like Papadopoulos and not Ashley Williams) then Liverpool will, undoubtedly, improve. Rodgers has a vibrant and exciting attack to call upon so needs to tighten the defence in order to challenge for the Champions League spots.
With these additions, there will be a hugely evident improvement in Liverpool’s performances and league position.
