---
title: "Opinion: Attack is the best form of defence amid Liverpool injury crisis"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/opinion-attack-is-the-best-form-of-defence-amid-liverpool-injury-crisis/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-01-09T06:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-09T06:00:00Z"
---

# Opinion: Attack is the best form of defence amid Liverpool injury crisis

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/01/08/liverpool-fans-aston-villa-fa-cup-young-lineup/) are facing an unparalleled defensive injury crisis as the second half of the 2020/21 campaign draws near and the Reds have [all three senior centre-backs](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12173759/joel-matip-liverpool-defender-injured-against-west-brom-adding-to-jurgen-klopps-selection-woes)sidelined.

Two of last season’s [most important players](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joe-gomez-virgil-van-dijk-19270845) in Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will be fortunate to play again this season and [Joel Matip](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1372080/joel-matip-injury-liverpool-defenders-could-sign-january-transfer-window) is always seemingly only moments away from his next spell on the treatment table.

With the chances of January arrivals [looking slim](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12181493/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-not-likely-to-sign-centre-back-in-january-transfer-window) and [dissenting voices](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9112891/Jamie-Carragher-claims-Liverpool-NOT-win-league-without-new-centre-January.html) already making themselves heard, [Jurgen Klopp](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/01/08/jurgen-klopp-hints-that-he-has-made-a-mistake-with-takumi-minamino/) could revert back to the primitive days of his tenure for inspiration as to how to attack what’s left of this season.

After Klopp recently [engaged a siege mentality](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9123933/Jurgen-Klopp-urges-Liverpool-players-fight-against-world-aims-siege-mentality.html) within his players about how he and his side were going to ‘fight’ with all they have to retain their Premier League title, perhaps a shift in tactical style could fuel the fire.

Despite [unwarranted criticism](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/859232/Liverpool-news-Jurgen-Klopp-James-Milner-Peter-Schmeichel-Anfield-Champions-League) over his defensive naivety in the first two seasons in charge at Anfield, early Liverpool under Klopp [were a different animal](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/apr/08/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-english-football-gegenpressing) to the one which has [swept aside all before them](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/50878833) in the last two years.

A seemingly gung-ho ‘[you score three, we’ll score four](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11959/10243110/liverpool-report)‘ approach was the way for large parts of the German’s early Anfield tenure, with [varied outcomes](https://www.skysports.com/football/bmouth-vs-liverpool/report/356465) and plenty of nervy moments before the arrival of some [key signings](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11441825/liverpool-sign-alisson-from-roma-in-record-deal-for-a-goalkeeper).

With reliable defenders once again at a premium whilst still boasting a [plethora of top-quality attacking talent](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/first-team), Liverpool may be best served to go ‘back to the future’ in the defence of their title.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Despite [coming close on numerous occasions](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15117/11356189/jurgen-klopps-record-in-cup-finals-liverpool-bosss-wait-for-major-trophy-goes-on), the ultra-attacking Liverpool way never brought about any silverware for Klopp prior to 2019.

However, with [more quality](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/18/liverpool-sign-thiago-alcantara-from-bayern-munich-jurgen-klopp) in attacking positions now and with a [midfield to rival the best](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8780185/Liverpool-boss-Jurgen-Klopp-lauds-exceptional-qualities-new-signing-Thiago-Alcantara.html) in world football, a shift in policy could just work this time around.

The art of defending mustn’t be totally forgotten, but with a [relatively low points total possibly being enough](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) to claim this season’s title, the Reds may stand the best chance by truly ‘attacking’ their crown, as [Klopp claimed](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53253578#:~:text=Klopp%2C%20who%20joined%20Liverpool%20in,already%20on%20the%20way%20down.%22) in pre-season.