Questions will be asked of Liverpool’s defence ahead of the new season after shipping four goals in a 4-3 loss against Bayern Munich to conclude their Singapore tour. Cody Gakpo had put the Reds ahead after just two minutes and new captain Virgil Van Dijk made it 2-0. But Bayern went into the break level after Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane exposed an open defence to score.
Luis Diaz put Liverpool back ahead but Josip Stanisic and Frans Kratzig scored to see the German champions leave with a victory.
A theme of Jurgen Klopp press conferences in Singapore has been the manager saying Liverpool’s defence must improve drastically if they are to better last season’s disappointing five-placed finish.
Judging on the performance by Liverpool’s defenders here, there is a lot of work to do in that regard. The Reds were left far too open on their right flank for both of Bayern’s first-half goals, both with Serge Gnabry at the heart of them.
Part of the problem is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s much-discussed move to midfield. Though he is named as a full-back on the team-sheet, the Englishman drifts into central areas and is allowed to dictate play from deep when Liverpool are in possession.
But this leaves a gaping gap in his usual position, with Joel Matip or Ibrahima Konate left with too much space to cover when Liverpool lose the ball. Both goals came from this side, with Gnabry finding expanses of space in between the usual right-back position and Matip.
It continues a trend of a leaky defence for the Reds, who have conceded 10 goals in four pre-season games, and it feels like Klopp leaves Singapore with more questions than answers in that regard.
Credit: dailymail.co.uk
