Didi Hamann has issues about Liverpool’s defence following their Premier League opener.
The Reds started their title defence at dwelling to Bournemouth on Friday night time.
5
5
They have been pegged again throughout the second half, regardless of taking a two-goal lead at Anfield
In consequence, it took late targets from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to safe a 4-2 victory.
Arne Slot handed league debuts to 4 of his summer time signings towards the Cherries.
Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring earlier than later aiding Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s second.
In the meantime, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have been all additionally included within the beginning line-up.
Hamann, although, was unconvinced by new full-backs Frimpong and Kerkez.
Assessing the defensive show, he advised Breakfast: “I believe if you happen to take a look at the 90 minutes, I believe you by no means felt they have been actually accountable for the sport.
“That is one thing I believe the place they have been actually good final season. It was end-to-end stuff.
“They struggled to create probabilities over the 90 minutes and in addition allowed fairly just a few.
“I believe if you happen to do not management video games with out the ball, it makes it even tougher to regulate it with the ball. I believe a part of it, or the rationale was that defensively, they have been fairly fragile as they have been towards Palace.
5
5
“Kerkez struggled (in) each video games to date. Frimpong, for all his energy going ahead, his tempo, he is not a right-back.
“I believe that is one thing they’ve to handle as a result of with out Trent (Alexander-Arnold) within the workforce, I believe the dynamics within the workforce will change.”
Alexander-Arnold left the Reds after 21 years on the membership, becoming a member of Actual Madrid again in June.
In 354 first-team appearances, he scored 23 targets and offered 92 assists from right-back.
What are Liverpool lacking?
Hamann continued: “The opposite factor, I believe in possession, they have been actually good as properly final season as a result of they tire a workforce out and rating late on after they pale.
“With Trent, you had the most effective ball-players within the Premier League, a right-back. He got here inside typically.
“I believe what occurred with Trent within the workforce, as a result of clearly quite a bit has been made, whether or not he is been missed or not, I believe if Trent was on the ball and had a 3 or four-yard house and a little bit of time on the ball, I believe what did occur, the groups dropped off as a result of they knew if he must put a ball on a six-pence, he’ll do.
“I believe what it did is it stretched groups, even by him being on the pitch and being in possession.
“I believe it gave all people else within the workforce just a little bit extra time in midfield and in addition up high as a result of together with his passing capability, he did stretch groups as a result of folks have been afraid of his passing.
“Clearly, that is one thing they will not have this season as a result of Frimpong is a very completely different participant.”
Slot explains his modifications
Each Frimpong and Kerkez stored a clear sheet towards the Cherries, regardless of Hamann’s feedback.
Liverpool didn’t concede till after the pair have been changed within the sixtieth minute of the match.
5
Slot changed them with Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson earlier than Antoine Semenyo decreased the deficit simply 4 minutes later.
Explaining his substitutions after the match, the Liverpool boss mentioned: “Not solely the tempo of the league, Jeremie felt his hamstring just a little bit in order that’s a danger – particularly if the opposite full-back Conor Bradley is already out with an harm.
“With Joe Gomez solely coaching twice, I did not really feel he may already play half [an hour] on this depth, so I began off with Wata in that place, realizing that I may all the time convey Joe perhaps afterward for 10, 15, 20 minutes.
“Milos Kerkez performs each duel as if his life depends upon it, which is a good high quality, however if you happen to play towards such an excellent winger like Semenyo once you’re already on one yellow card, it is a danger – particularly realizing that now we have Robertson as properly, in order that’s defined in that sense.”
The champions are subsequent in motion away to Newcastle on August 25.