Roy Keane has claimed that ‘the biggest problem’ at Liverpool at the moment is one that dates back to the latter part of last season.
Although the Reds returned in style on Wednesday night by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, it was the eighth straight game in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet, having conceded 18 goals in 13 games in all competitions.
The Premier League champions have had just two shoutouts so far this season (1-0 wins over Arsenal and Burnley), compared to nine for the Gunners in a dozen games.
| Statistics 2025/26 | Games played | Goals against | Clean sheets |
| Liverpool | 13 | 18 | 2 |
| Arsenal | 12 | 3 | 9 |
Keane: Liverpool’s defensive problems are nothing new
On the last one Stick to football In the podcast, Keane claimed Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses date back to the latter part of last season, when they were largely glossed over as they won the top-flight title with four games to spare.
The ex-Manchester United captain said: “I think the biggest problem is obviously defensive. In the future there is a goal threat. The boys are a bit wrong, but they have come back and they have quality.”
“Defensively, and we said that at the start of the season, when we go back to the Community Shield they give away chances. You say, ‘Yes, but they score, they score’, and now that’s dried up*.
“They are still giving away a lot of chances and goals, even towards the end of last season. That is the biggest problem.”
(*Podcast was recorded on Wednesday before the 5-1 win in Frankfurt)
Liverpool need to tighten up, but there were encouraging signs in midweek
If we include the final eight games of the 2024/25 season, Liverpool have conceded 32 goals in 21 games and kept just three clean sheets in that time.
Granted, nine of the concessions came after the Premier League title had been secured and players had perhaps unknowingly quit, but it nevertheless highlights a worrying trend that Arne Slot is keen to arrest, starting with the visit of Brentford tomorrow night.
Keane’s doubts about the Reds’ defense echo those of Jamie Carragher, who warned the champions simply won’t retain their title this season unless they tighten up significantly at the back.
What might give the head coach some encouragement is that the total of 0.3 xG against in Frankfurt was Liverpool’s second lowest of the season and was a marked improvement on the four games they had lost before midweek (cumulative xG against of 6.9, via FBref).
Slot doesn’t want to curb the attacking threat that his collection of top-class attackers can provide, but if there was a way to make sacrifices some If we were to capitalize on that in favor of greater determination at the other end of the field, we would be much closer to achieving an ideal balance that would get our pursuit of trophies back on track.
You can watch Slot’s full pre-Brentford press conference at Kingdom of the Kop on YouTube:
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