Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have endured a thoroughly miserable start to the new Premier League season.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Tottenham, the Reds sit ninth in the table having won just four out of their opening 12 matches. Whilst many have been attempting to find a reason behind Liverpool’s current slump, one major problem behind their poor start has been a common theme of falling behind. In eight of their 12 matches so far this season, the Merseysiders have conceded the first goal. Only Southampton have fallen behind on more occasions this term.
Whilst Liverpool have been praised for their frequent ability to bounce back, that appears to have abandoned them this term having only won one of the games in which they have conceded first.
French defender Ibrahima Konate admitted last month that he was at a loss over the reason behind his side’s consistently slow starts.
Speaking with the Reds’ official website, he said: “I cannot really explain that... we have to talk to each other on the pitch and fight at the start of the game [and] at the end. We are very sad but now we have to watch what was our mistake in this game [against Arsenal] and try to not do this again in the next game.
“It’s very sad but we have to keep the head held up and keep going to work every day, every day, every day. Sometimes it’s like that, but we don’t give up now and we have to work again, again and again.”
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That aforementioned work appears to have had little benefit with Liverpool still slipping behind early on - the latest example coming in their defeat to Leeds United at Anfield last weekend.
They will no doubt be attempting to avoid that fate once more against Spurs this weekend, with goalkeeper Alisson having highlighted it is a problem that needs rectifying, albeit having failed to offer a specific solution like Konate.
Speaking with Sky Sports, he said: "Everybody expects to see us score one, two or three goals in the first 20 minutes, but now we are doing the opposite. Of course, when you concede first and you win, it's a sign of a strong mentality. That is important as well.
"But we know that, to find consistency, we have to stop conceding first, because, always, it's a knock to the confidence of the team.
"That is one thing we agree on, but we don't focus too much on the problem, because then we are not focused on the right thing. We focus on the solutions. We speak between us, with the manager, and we try to put on the pitch everything we discuss and prepare."
