Reds’ room for improvement

Liverpool thrilled in attack against Arsenal but their 4-3 victory also highlighted defensive concerns for Jurgen Klopp’s men…

Manchester City were shocked by the speed and skill of Liverpool’s attackers last season home and away. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea could not cope with Philippe Coutinho at Stamford Bridge. Southampton, flayed 6-1 on their own patch in the League Cup, felt the full force of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

In 14 second-half minutes on Sunday it was Arsenal’s turn to bear the brunt, as Adam Lallana, Coutinho and Sadio Mane came in wave after wave after wave to propel Liverpool into a 4-1 lead.

It was a blistering burst which left Arsenal on the ropes and Arsene Wenger fearing an even greater thrashing. Liverpool were at full tilt, just as they had been in those games last season.

Yet, what followed was not more goals for the visitors but a fightback from the Gunners which left Liverpool holding on in the final moments.

Afterwards Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry criticised Liverpool’s inability to manage a game. It is a weakness which saw them concede 50 goals last season – the joint most they had ever conceded in the Premier League. And something they need to address if they are to transform their eighth-place finish in 2015/16 into a title challenge this time around.

“Arsenal are a top team but if we want to achieve something special this year we’re going to have to be more disciplined defensively as a unit,” Lallana told Sky Sports.

He could have been forgiven for getting caught up in the euphoria of helping Liverpool to only their second win in 21 away trips to Arsenal in all competitions, but …

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