What do Virgil van Dijk's and Ibrahima Konate's tackles and interceptions stats tell about Liverpool's defence ahead of trip to Newcastle United?
Liverpool may have sorted their midfield, but the defence could use some work
Liverpool’s most glaring issue in the offseason was the midfield. The departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left a gaping hole that needed to be filled.
Three players were signed to replace the five long-time midfielders who left, as Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo joined the Anfielders to makeover the team. Endo was the last of the three players to sign, arriving a week ago and participating in one training session before playing 28 minutes against Bournemouth the following day.
But even with the additions of three high-energy midfielders, the same problems that existed last season, and for parts of the 2021-22 campaign, are still apparent. Liverpool’s defence needs improving and results after two Premier League matchdays continue to prove it.
The defence is still error-prone and occasionally struggles from a lack of focus. This was evident against Bournemouth in the opening five minutes of the match. Trent Alexander-Arnold was guilty of a lack of focus and urgency. Had VAR not intervened, he could have been at fault for two goals. Although Alisson didn’t bathe himself in glory either.
There was constant blaming of the midfield last season by the media and fans. The defence’s shortcomings were overlooked, shifting the blame from one area of the pitch to another.
There is no doubt that captain Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been the same since coming back from an ACL injury in the autumn of 2020. There have been times Van Dijk has shown glimpses of the player that made him the best centre-back in the world. There have also been glimpses of a defender slowing down.
Although Ibrahima Konate is now Van Dijk’s usual partner at the back, the Frenchman has struggled at times, too. Injuries haven’t helped Konate sustain his form. Then, there are Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. The former is a much better right-back than centre-back and can play on the right defensive flank to provide the solidity that Alexander-Arnold sometimes lacks.
Matip is a cult hero who produced some fine performances for the Reds. Some fans will see him as an injury-prone central defender, but others will view the former Schalke man as one of the best bargain signings of the last decade. Signed as a free agent, Matip has played in 187 matches in all competitions, helping the Reds reach three Champions League finals and win the Premier League.
Gomez and Matip are likely to see action in the cup competitions barring injuries to Konate and Van Dijk. It is Konate and Van Dijk who will get the majority of Premier League minutes, as the club battles for a return to the top four.
A top-five finish could be good enough for qualification to the 2024-25 Champions League, however. The revamped version of the competition may welcome an additional Premier League team.
Liverpool’s defence conceded two goals in the opening two matches of the Premier League season. A 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was followed by a 3-1 home win against Bournemouth. The Reds had an expected goals against (xGA) figure of 1.4 against Chelsea and 1.3 versus Bournemouth, according to Fbref. The Figures show the defence conceded a few quality goalscoring chances, but nothing alarming, as the xGA numbers weren’t too far off the real totals.
The Reds’ Premier League xGA of 2.6 isn’t bad after two matches. Going back to the 2021-22 Premier League season, a campaign in which Liverpool fought for the title until the final day, the Reds had an xGA of 33.8. Only 26 real goals were conceded in that nearly year.
The following season, Liverpool allowed 47 Premier League goals and had an xGA of 50.9. The Reds are on pace to concede 38 goals in 2023-24. But that figure comes after just two matches. It is likely to change as the Premier League wears on and more data is collected.
Van Dijk’s defensive stats make for interesting reading. He has never been known as a defender that dives into tackles. The Dutchman is a smart defender who uses his brain as much as his brawn. Defensive positioning is Van Dijk’s favourite tool rather than crushing tackles.
According to Fbref, Van Dijk averages just 0.78 tackles per match, which puts him in the fourth percentile for centre-backs. That is a very low figure, but once again, Van Dijk has always been about positioning and outthinking attackers.
Unfortunately, after a serious knee injury and at the age of 32, the body slows down. The injuries and slowing down could result in failing to get into the previous positions that stopped attacking players.
Van Dijk’s interceptions per game for centre-backs is better but not significantly. He averages 1.04 interceptions a match which places him in the 33rd percentile for centre-backs. Van Dijk’s best category is aerials won, with 3.22 per 90 minutes. This places him in the 91st percentile, according to Fbref.
What about the Dutchman’s defensive partner, Konate?
Konate is the ying to Van Dijk’s yang. The Frenchman averages 2.26 tackles per 90 minutes (89th percentile for centre-backs) and 1.27 interceptions (54th percentile). Konate isn’t quite as good in the air, averaging 2.62 aerials per 90 minutes. This puts him in the 76th percentile.
One of the glaring stats that neither Van Dijk nor Konate rank highly are interceptions. Perhaps this is where the specialist No 6 midfielder comes in. Unfortunately, Endo doesn’t rank highly in interceptions either.
He did make 1.0 tackle and 1.0 interception in 28 minutes versus Bournemouth. The Japanese international is hard-working and comes from a team that constantly battled against relegation in the Bundesliga. There is room to improve.
Endo was the captain and heart of Stuttgart. He earned the nickname “Legendo” for his heroics in 2021-22. While Liverpool were fighting for four trophies, Endo scored a 92nd-minute winner for Stuttgart that sent the team out of the relegation zone on the final day of the Bundesliga campaign, saving their season. Playing with higher quality players around him, Endo can improve the midfield and the players in defence.
Liverpool’s defence will face a test at St James’ Park on Sunday. Newcastle looked like flat-track bullies in their opening two matches, winning 5-1 at home against Aston Villa before losing 1-0 against Man City away, without much fight. The Reds went to St James’ Park and won 2-0 last term. The win on the Tyne came a few months after a 2-1 win at Anfield thanks to a Fabio Carvalho winner in second-half stoppage time.
Which Newcastle team will show up on Sunday? More importantly, which Liverpool team will show up at St James’ Park? Will it be a defensively weak side or a team ready for a fight? Sunday’s match is a six-point affair, with the assumption that these teams will battle for the top four come the end of the season.