Jurgen has problems all over the pitch now
TRENT Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away 38 times during this game. Liverpool managed one shot on target. Anyone who thinks Jurgen Klopp only has problems at the centre of his defence needs to take another look. This was never likely to be a straightforward Premier League title defence for Liverpool, in a season when factors other than talent and mental application were sure to be at play. Liverpool have certainly suffered at the whim of the hectic schedule more than most. Injuries have come to important players, but there are other issues, too. Alexander-Arnold had been a shadow of last season’s version even before a difficult night that began with him offering Danny Ings the opportunity to score the winning goal in the second minute, and got steadily worse. As the young right back’s form has fluctuated, Liverpool have lost a vital attacking outlet. Further forward, their front three have stayed fit and scored goals — 24 in the league between them. Nevertheless, they have not always carried that familiar, irresistible threat. Early in the campaign, they were helped by the Portuguese forward Diogo Jota who hit the ground running with five goals. But then Jota got injured, too. So Liverpool have fallen marginally but significantly below the extraordinary standards of the last two seasons and over Christmas and New Year it has caught up with them. Games against West Brom, Newcastle and Southampton have brought only two points and a solitary goal. It is no crisis but this night at St Mary’s offered a glimpse into some of the problems that have restricted them over the last three months. Klopp’s team have a tendency to concede poor goals and this one — expertly taken by Ings — was an absolute rotter. Although Liverpool can be devastating on their day, meanwhile, there are too many occasions when they appear less potent with the ball. Chances don’t follow possession and territory in quite the way we have come to expect. Last night, Liverpool were poor in the first half and much better in the second. But they could create only half-chances and the night ended as they failed to deliver a last-chance corner kick into the penalty area, which was frankly baffling. Short of his best three central defenders, Klopp asked Jordan Henderson to partner Fabinho at the back. When Milner replaced Alexander-Arnold in the second half, Liverpool’s defence featured three midfield players. Henderson did OK but it does not have the look of a long-term solution. The Liverpool captain remains too valuable in midfield and was missed here on a night when Thiago Alcantara and Alex OxladeChamberlain endured uncertain games. Liverpool’s season needs impetus now and it will be interesting to see what Klopp does. He has suggested he is not keen to buy a central defender this month, but what the German really means is that there is nobody out there worth buying who could be secured in mid-season. If he doesn’t buy, he must hope Joel Matip returns to fitness as soon as possible. Liverpool face Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday. It’s a resurgent Manchester United in the League nine days later. Klopp’s team suddenly have a look of vulnerability about them and it is a while since we have said that.