In recent seasons, Liverpool has been the team that would solve the problem of defending by outscoring its opponents. This gung-ho approach meant conceding 50 goals in the aforementioned 2013-14 season, keeping only 10 clean sheets. This season, by comparison, Liverpool conceded only 15 goals and managed 17 clean sheets.
The days of barmy 6-3 wins over Cardiff have, for the most part, been replaced by measured performances more befitting of a title challenger. Via refinement of Jurgen Klopp’s system in its fourth season, and the purchase of Virgil van Dijk — undoubtedly one of the best center backs in the world — Liverpool have the defensive fortitude that recent campaigns have lacked.
And the fact that the Reds have kept five clean sheets in a row speaks volumes to the quality of their defending, as we approach the critical part of the season that Sir Alex Ferguson once referred to as “squeaky bum time.” However, the same level of performance under pressure cannot be attributed to the front line. One of the fiercest attacks in world soccer has been dulled.