Liverpool have started their new Premier League campaign on the right note after earning three consecutive victories in a row against West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion. However, to the surprise of many, all of their wins have been based on solid defensive performances. The Reds are yet to concede a goal this season, and with the addition of Alisson Becker and Virgil Van Dijk over the past year, they currently have one of the best defences in English football.
Here are a few reasons why the Merseyside club currently has the best back four in the Premier League.
Stats Speak For Itself
Since the arrival of Van Dijk at the start of this year, the Reds have conceded the fewest goals while keeping the most number of clean sheets in the English top-flight. The fact that they have stopped conceding cheap goals from set-pieces and through defensive mistakes signify just how much they have improved defensively during this year.
Anfield Is A Fortress Again
Liverpool have not lost at Anfield in this calendar year, and it’s mainly because of their resolute defensive displays. Jurgen Klopp’s side hardly concedes a goal at home and has kept a lot of shut-outs over the past few months. As long as the Merseyside club can keep things tidy at the back during home games, they would have a good chance of keeping the best defensive record in the division.
Early Signs Are Promising
The Reds have kept three clean sheets in a row with some gutsy defensive performances against Crystal Palace and Brighton. Klopp’s men have already shown that they are good enough to defend a lead if required and that is why the Reds backline can be considered as one of the best, if not the best defence in the top tier of English football.
The Alisson Becker Effect
The signing of Alisson Becker has given the Liverpool defence a huge boost. The goalkeeping situation was a massive headache for Jurgen Klopp last season, and the fact that the German manager has addressed that problem by bringing in a world-class goalie could see the Reds be even more solid at the back this term. Anything is possible if someone like Alisson is operating between the sticks as he has the potential to win matches on his own.
Is The Liverpool Defence The Best In The Premier League?
There is still a long way to go in this campaign, but the early signs are genuinely encouraging. There is no doubt that the Reds have one of the best defences in the English top-flight, but on paper, they are still some way behind the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. So it’s too early to judge, and we should wait until the end of this season to determine whether the Liverpool defenders are strong enough for a title challenge.
