Defensive frailties costing Liverpool FC dear - Emiliano Insua

14 November 2009 05:00
WHEN it comes to making a case against the defence this season, Liverpool are guilty as charged[LNB]So often watertight, the Reds' rearguard has been leaking goals at an alarming rate compared to the typically miserly standards set throughout much of Rafael Benitez's tenure.[LNB]Take the league alone. With only two defeats last season, Liverpool conceded just 27 goals; an average of 0.71 per game.[LNB]The fact the Reds are two thirds of the way to equalling that tally already is cause for concern.[LNB]Eighteen goals shipped in the first 12 Premier League games this time around has taken the ratio up substantially to more than double at 1.5 goals conceded per match.[LNB]Last season it took until February 22 and the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Anfield for Liverpool to concede that amount on the way to claiming the third best defensive record in the league behind Chelsea and Manchester United.[LNB]Only Sunderland (19) and, wait for it, Burnley (25) currently have worse records of the teams in the top half of the table.[LNB]It is a worrying statistic and one, says Emiliano Insua, that needs to be addressed if Liverpool are to start climbing the table.[LNB]'I'm not sure why our record hasn't been as good this season,' Insua said.[LNB]'Maybe it's partly down to concentration? But it is also clear that we are conceding too many goals from set-pieces.[LNB]'We know we have to improve in this area. The players and the staff have to work to try and find a solution.'[LNB]Liverpool's frailties at set-pieces is something Albert Riera alluded to in this week's ECHO when he said: 'We have conceded a lot of goals from free-kicks. You didn't see that last year and we are the same players.'[LNB]While it was difficult to legislate for Cameron Jerome's stunning strike to put Birmingham 2-1 up last Monday night, the ease with which the ball found Christian Benitez for the equaliser highlighted what has become an Achilles heel for the Reds defence this season.[LNB]'We have to work harder at defending set-pieces,' insists Insua.[LNB]'We've conceded too many goals from set-plays. The only way we can change that is by working harder and try to do the same as we did last season, when our defensive record was very good.'

Source: Liverpool_Echo