---
title: "A Deep Backline"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/columns/a-deep-backline/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ste Hoare"
section: "Columns"
published: "2013-05-22T07:54:33Z"
modified: "2013-08-23T16:04:13Z"
---

# A Deep Backline

Recently I wrote an article where I briefed you on how I feel about Liverpool’s defenders and how they don’t attack the ball when it is in the air. However, I have another theory about why we are struggling at the back: we sit very deep in defence.

A quick look at the stats ([courtesy of www.EPLindex.com](https://www.eplindex.com/)) helps to back up my theory that Liverpool sit too deep. If you look at how many times we have caught an opposition player this season **(49 times)**, it is far less than Man City **(79)**, Chelsea **(100)**, Arsenal **(136)**, Spurs **(114)** and Everton **(90)**, all of whom finished above The Reds. Of the top six teams in the league only the champions Man United **(43)** caught opposition players offside fewer times than Liverpool. The average amount of offsides provoked in the top 6 is 93, making Brendan Rodgers’ men **44** off the pace and nearly needing to double their season total to even match others around them.

This shows that we sit very deep, and we allow players to collect the ball in front of our defenders and many strikers/attacking midfielders have hurt us from this position.

This deep back line causes us so many problems, and the more you examine, the more problems you find.

Firstly, it’s an obvious point to make but the deeper the defence is, the closer the opposition are to the goal, and we’ve seen teams exploit the long ball against Liverpool at times this year, and with relative success. If the defence is higher up the pitch, a long ball to a big man (such as Oldham’s Matt Smith) becomes a ball over the top, which many target men won’t be able to get on the end of.

Secondly, the space between the defence and the midfield is just far too big. Steven Gerrard is fantastic, but he’s obviously showing signs of ageing in terms of his legs. Also Lucas Leiva, his usual midfield partner has had a few very serious injuries in recent times, which have had an effect in his ability to get about the pitch at a high tempo. Both have looked very tired at times, and that is in part down to the space they need to cover behind them and in front of the defence. If the back line pushed up even ten yards, Gerrard and Lucas would have to do less running, which would only benefit the team in the closing stages of games.

Another negative impact of a deep back line is that the space behind the full backs can be huge if they are caught high up the pitch. A high back line reduces this space, which would be hugely advantageous for a team like Liverpool who rely heavily on their full backs to provide width in attack.

There is an obvious reason as to why the defence sits so deep and that is because the Liverpool centre backs all lack pace. None of our centre backs; Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, Sebastian Coates, Martin Skrtel and Andre Wisdom are particularly quick, and some are very, very slow! Therefore it is no surprise that Brendan Rodgers is reluctant to get his defence high up the pitch as he is obviously aware that any quick striker could get in behind his defence, however in Pepe Reina he does have arguably the best sweeper keeper in the world and that should give him the confidence to get his defence closer to his midfielders.

Attacking wise, Liverpool have looked pretty strong and I don’t think a huge improvement is needed in that department, just some fine tuning. The defence has looked pretty poor all season, and I’m sure Rodgers will be looking to improve that area, both in terms of personnel and in the style of play – including how deep they sit.

I’m pretty sure that in an ideal world, Rodgers would have his defensive line higher up the pitch, and I’m also sure that he will want his summer defensive acquisitions to be able to play a high line and if that does become the case, I believe Liverpool’s defence and midfield will look much stronger next season, which will hopefully complement an improving attack to make the Reds a much better side.