Liverpool could fix their defensive problems by abandoning their ‘obsession’ with catching the opposition offside, believes club legend Jamie Carragher.
The Reds have had a difficult start to the season in defence and are coming off a remarkable 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa.
That was the Premier League champions’ first defeat of the season, but they also conceded three goals at home to Leeds United in their opening game of the campaign and fell behind to Arsenal, before beating them 3-1.
Carragher feels that Jurgen Klopp does not have to abandon the high line that he uses in his defence, but he should encourage his defenders not to be so set on trying to catch opposition forwards offisde.
The former England defender feels that simply dropping the high line back a couple of yards when danger is afoot will solve their problems.
‘Andy Robertson said something about the Arsenal game that they caught them offside a lot and I just thought that was an interesting thing to say,’ Carragher told the Liverpool Echo.
‘I don’t think it’d ever be something I’d say after a game, but obviously it is something that is in their head.
‘They don’t need to change the high line, I would just love to see them drop off maybe two or three yards, that is all it is. When someone is in a dangerous position, it almost gives them something to get running.
‘We all know, doesn’t matter what level you play, if you’re asked to run from a standing start, you jog two or three yards, you’re already on your way and I just feel there is an obsession with offside.
‘It’s not about Liverpool dropping off 10 or 15 yards, it’s just a case of when they are in dangerous situations, it is just about dropping off two or three yards to give yourself a head start to start running back.
‘That is all because I don’t think there is any problem with having a high line. You have to be compact, aggressive and play with a calculated risk, but just run back lads, please!’
Liverpool will have their defence put to the test this Saturday when they take on Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have enjoyed a sensational start to the season, winning all four games and sitting top of the table, scoring 12 goals in the process.
