Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 7y

Jurgen Klopp wary of Liverpool defending on set pieces vs. West Brom

Jurgen Klopp has said that his Liverpool side still have trouble defending set pieces ahead of Saturday's meeting with dead-ball specialists West Bromwich Albion.

Tony Pulis' team have scored 19 goals from set pieces so far this season, while Liverpool have looked unconvincing at the back by conceding 10 goals in their opening seven games.

Klopp says he is hoping to numb the potent threat of the Baggies by ensuring they do not have possession of the ball in the first place.

Liverpool drew both games with the Baggies last season and the Reds boss has said he is fully aware of what to expect at Anfield on Saturday evening.

"Everybody knows a little bit about their style of play, so there's obvious things I can say," Klopp said. "There will be a lot of set pieces, 100 percent.

"They are really strong at this, each Liverpool fan thinks there is one real weakness [for us] and it's set pieces. We don't have these big problems any more but still we concede goals.

"The good news is it is not easy to outplay us, the bad news is, we don't defend at 100 percent on set pieces. That's another kind of truth, so we need to be really concentrated. We can't avoid the set piece, we have to defend them really well."

The former Borussia Dortmund manager added: "They are physical and strong, we know about this, and as long as we have the ball, they cannot do something else -- they have to defend us.

"It's really important we find solutions for their formation, so maybe a few games we have played up to now is a good education for this game.

"All what we did for the start of preseason is for games like this, so hopefully we can show we are taking a big step in the right direction."

^ Back to Top ^