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#2 Defensive woes
Talking about defensive personnel, it is easy to forget that Liverpool's defensive woes run deeper. While getting in the right players is key to eradicating the problem, it is important for attack-minded teams to defend together as a team to actually solve the issue. Klopp's claims of being a good defensive coach were severely put to the test after a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Tottenham at Wembley back in October.
However, the gaffer started to back his claims as performances improved. As pointed out on Monday Night Football by Jamie Carragher, the average position of Liverpool's full-back Moreno in the next game against Huddersfield at home was surprisingly deeper. The full-backs were no longer playing as wingers and instead, picked their moments to burst forward. This change definitely made the side better at the back while ensuring there was no impact in the goals department.
Thus, the team started to work together defensively as the season progressed and the arrival of Van Dijk in January ensured there was a vocal leader at the back. The Dutchman's quality rubbed off on his team-mates, especially Lovren. Karius found form and the midfield shielded their defence better, making the team stronger defensively. This was on display when Liverpool shut out Manchester City spectacularly at Anfield in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
In fact, after the Spurs game back in October, the Reds have the best defensive record in the league for the next 29 games, with just 22 goals conceded and Van Dijk has played in only 15 of them. This highlights how Klopp has proven his claims of being a good defensive coach and this progress is here to stay as it is not entirely dependant on a single individual. No wonder Liverpool are the only one among the 92 teams in the English Football League to go unbeaten at home this season, another sign of progress.
