Arne Slot has been told the biggest issue he faces to make Liverpool title contenders again

Add as preferred source on Google

Roy Keane has claimed that Liverpool’s “biggest problem” this season has been their defence.

Despite the Reds managing to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in their Champions League clash on Wednesday, some cracks still managed to show.

Indeed, it was a completely new system, and it’s likely to take time for the players to get fully used to it, but that doesn’t mean that they should have conceded the first goal of the clash.

For most of the season, the Reds’ defence has had question marks hanging over it, and although Ibrahima Konate seems to have got his act together, the fact that the defence looked stronger without Milos Kerkez in it is a tad concerning.

And now, after the form that Liverpool have been in over the last month or so, Keane has shared why Liverpool’s defence is going to cause them issues this term.

Roy Keane says that Liverpool have been a “little bit off” this season

As everyone knows, the Reds won all of their first five Premier League games, but since they were beaten 2-1 by Crystal Palace at the end of September, things have gone pear-shaped.

There have been times when last season’s Liverpool have come out, but more often than not, the Reds have found themselves on the back foot, with one of Konate’s mistakes even leading to Alisson getting injured.

While speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Keane shared his thoughts on Liverpool and why he thinks their defence have been giving up chances.

“I think obviously the biggest problem is defensively. Going forward, there’s a goal threat,” he said.

“The lads are a little bit off, but they’ve come back and they’ve got quality. But defensively, and we started the start of the season, going back to the Community Shield, they’re giving up chances.

“You’re going, yeah, but they’re scoring, they’re scoring.

“And now that’s dried up. They’re still giving up loads of chances, loads of goals, even towards the end of last season. That’s the biggest issue.”

Liverpool’s new system could help them get back to their best this season

Liverpool were the dominant force throughout most of their Champions League clash against Frankfurt, and this was likely down to their new system.

Slot chose to deploy his men in a sort of 4-4-2 formation, which gave players such as Florian Wirtz the freedom to roam across the pitch.

The Dutchman also chose to start both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak on Wednesday, and, while they only managed to play alongside one another for 45 minutes, it was clear that this could easily be the Reds’ set-up for the rest of the season.

Indeed, Wednesday’s game did see Mohamed Salah get dropped to the bench, but within the new system, there are two places where the Egyptian King could be deployed.

One of these is as a striker, that is, especially while Isak is sidelined due to the groin injury he suffered, and the other is on the right wing.

Only time will tell whether Slot will build upon this system, but if he does, it feels like the Reds will end up in a much better position than they currently find themselves.