Jurgen Klopp picks out four Liverpool players for criticism after Bayern defeat
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged four of his defenders to improve after their disappointing 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga champions won in Singapore on Wednesday thanks to Frans Kratzig's added-time winner. Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Josip Stanisic also scored for Thomas Tuchel's side, with Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz finding the net in reply.
Liverpool have conceded 10 goals during their first four pre-season fixtures, with only two of those teams playing top-flight football this coming season. Klopp was understandably frustrated with his defenders after the Bayern loss and criticised four of them.
The quartet to be called out by the Liverpool boss were Trent Alexander Arnold, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate. Klopp will need his defence to be fully functioning if his team are to win silverware over the next nine or so months.
"In the first goal we conceded, Trent and Joel have to react better," Klopp told reporters, as quoted by the Daily Mail. "Both were standing on both feet. I don’t think the pass was one we could have avoided.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
"It was around half an hour into the game and we were feeling the intensity already then. It was a similar time in the second half with Joe Gomez and Ibou Konate. It’s not about speed, it’s about awareness, check the situation, in football there are no breaks."
Liverpool's pre-season campaign has been full of goals. They started with friendlies against Karlsruher and Greuther Furth in Germany, with those games finishing 4-2 and 4-4 respectively. They then thumped Leicester 4-0 before the seven-goal thriller with Bayern.
Klopp's side have struggled defensively during pre-season (Getty Images)Do you think Liverpool will struggle defensively this coming season? Let us know in the comments below!
Klopp will be pleased with the form of his strikers. Darwin Nunez has found the net four times during pre-season, while Diogo Jota has three goals to his name. Gakpo and Diaz have also scored two goals each, with Mohamed Salah on target against Furth.
Yet Liverpool's defence is a concern. Klopp will be hoping his team can win their final pre-season friendly against Darmstadt on Monday. Liverpool will take on the Germans, who were promoted to the Bundesliga in May, at Deepdale - the home of Preston.
The game is not being played on Merseyside because the Anfield Road Stand expansion is still being completed. Liverpool's next home fixture is against Bournemouth on August 19, but work will not be completed in time for that Premier League game.
It's hoped work on the stand will be completed in time for the Merseyside derby against Everton in October. The renovations will increase Anfield's capacity from just under 54,000 to 61,000, making it one of the biggest stadiums in the Premier League.
Liverpool are keen for success this season after a difficult 2022/23 campaign, which saw them finish fifth in the Premier League. They also failed to go far in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup - although they did win the Community Shield.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
