Liverpool's Narrow Victory Over Newcastle: It's Unusual Not to Worry with This Defense

27/08/2025 08:28:00 SportScoop

Liverpool started the 2025/26 Premier League season with two dramatic victories: a 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield and a tense 3-2 win at Newcastle.

However, behind the joy of those wins, Liverpool’s defense has shown serious flaws by conceding 4 goals in just 2 matches. If not corrected soon, these problems could undermine "The Reds'" hopes of retaining their championship.

The Set-Piece Nightmare

One of Liverpool’s biggest weaknesses this season is their inability to defend set-piece situations, which was clearly revealed in the victory over Newcastle. Both goals Liverpool conceded came from dead-ball plays: Bruno Guimaraes scored with a header from a throw-in combination, and Will Osula took advantage of a long clearance from goalkeeper Nick Pope to level the score at 2-2. The image of the red defense scrambling and allowing opponents easy headers or to bypass them freely has caused concern among fans.

Virgil van Dijk, the defensive captain, voiced his frustration: "Conceding two goals from set pieces is unacceptable for a team like ours." Former star Jamie Carragher openly criticized Ibrahima Konate, who was physically outmatched on the first goal and appeared confused on the second, calling his performance "really poor." This issue is not new; it was evident in last season’s Carabao Cup final and against PSG, highlighting a tactical weakness that Arne Slot has yet to resolve.

The primary reason is a lack of defensive organization. Left-back Milos Kerkez, though promising, lacks experience in one-on-one duels. Coach Arne Slot’s high pressing system, while effective in exerting pressure, leaves large gaps when broken. Both Bournemouth and Newcastle exploited direct passes into the space behind the midfield line, repeatedly putting Liverpool’s defense on high alert. Slot admitted the team was caught in "set piece after set piece" situations against Newcastle, with statistics showing the home side generated 0.93 xG, surpassing Liverpool’s 0.7. For a title contender, this is alarming.

To fix this, Slot needs to focus on drills against set pieces, improve man-marking and coordination in the penalty area. Adjusting the pressing system to reduce the space behind the midfield is also key. Without these fixes, Liverpool will continue to suffer against teams that play direct and physically demanding football.

Despite the win, Liverpool still raises many concerns, especially regarding their defense.

Lack of Squad Depth

Besides tactical problems, individual mistakes are making Liverpool’s defense even more fragile. Konate, expected to be Van Dijk’s ideal partner, continues to disappoint. Against Newcastle, he was easily beaten by Osula for the equalizer and received a yellow card for an unnecessary foul. Carragher did not hesitate to criticize Konate for being "all over the place" in positioning and challenges. Although Van Dijk remains a solid pillar, he cannot cover all the defensive shortcomings alone.

The absence of Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley adds more pressure on the defense. New signing Kerkez, despite his promise, lacks the experience to handle high-pressure situations. In the match against Newcastle, he failed to mark his man on the first goal, allowing Guimaraes to score. These mistakes not only highlight individual issues but also reveal a lack of cohesion in the defensive system.

Squad depth is a major concern, especially with the 2025 summer transfer window closing on September 1st. Letting Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz leave has thinned the attack, forcing Liverpool to rely on young talents like Hugo Ekitike and Rio Ngumoha. Although Ngumoha has been praised as a "promising prospect" after scoring a Thierry Henry-style goal, his inexperience only emphasizes the need to recruit more seasoned players.

In defense, Liverpool has yet to make significant additions. The race to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace remains undecided. Joel Matip’s departure without a direct replacement leaves Liverpool overly dependent on Van Dijk and Konate. Sporting director Richard Hughes must act decisively in the final days of the transfer window to bring in a quality center-back to ease the burden on Van Dijk and Konate. Otherwise, Liverpool risks repeating the 2020-21 scenario, when injuries and personnel shortages turned the defense into a patchwork.

The upcoming big clash with Arsenal will be a tough test for Liverpool’s defense. If Konate and Kerkez continue to make mistakes and the midfield does not improve its shielding ability, keeping a clean sheet will be nearly impossible. Slot needs to quickly adjust tactics, focusing on improving set-piece defense and strengthening the connection between lines. Tighter man-marking drills and better coordination in the penalty area are essential.

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