Harder to be Liverpool defender than at Man United – Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has said it is harder to be a centre-back for Liverpool than it is for other clubs including Manchester United.

Liverpool have struggled defensively this season, conceding 42 goals in 34 matches, although they are third in the Premier League table with four games to play.

Klopp indicated he is in the market for reinforcements at the back this summer but is targeting a player who suits Liverpool’s higher defensive line.

He said: “If you defend deep then you have a lot of legs and help around, that’s how it is. The first goal last week, this is not an excuse, but it can happen with a misjudgement and a counter-attack. A centre-half for a top team is playing with a lot of space at the back. That’s how Tottenham act, how City act and sometimes how Arsenal act. Manchester United are for sure a bit different.

“You have to involve a lot of players in offensive things usually, you cannot be offensive with just two players in a counter-attack when there are already eight from the other team in their own half or box. So of course it is more difficult.

“If we go for a centre-half we need to know how he acts in big spaces, but on the other side centre-halves can feel pretty alone in certain moments if we don’t react the right way after losing the ball. That is why counter-pressing is a pretty useful skill.”

Last week, centre-back Dejan Lovren signed a new contract at Anfield, while Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk continues to be linked with a summer move to Merseyside.

Klopp added: “I saw a lot of centre-halves, that is how it is. We cannot go for a centre-half from Bayern Munich, for example — they have similar problems to us — but you have to imagine how a defender will react in different situations.

“All clubs defend in some moments high. It is about being football smart and they have to make the right decision in the right moment, stepping back and all that stuff.

“For example, Palace’s second goal was after a set piece but it came after we lost the ball in the build-up. If the defender steps back in this moment then for a few seconds there could be help from somewhere. It was two wrong decisions in one situation. But defending high is not a problem, it is only a different job.”