Gary Neville has been blown away by the transformation of Liverpool’s defence this season.
The Merseyside giants have conceded just seven goals from 18 Premier League matches after keeping another clean sheet in Friday night’s 2-0 win against Wolves at Molineux.
“I didn’t see this coming,” Neville told Sky Sports in the aftermath of the win over Wolves. “You can’t go from being a team that concedes 50 goals a season and then got to this without something incredible happening.
“It’s personnel, obviously, but also the work they are doing and their attitude towards defending. They were a soft touch and now they are a real team. It’s incredible really.”
OPINION
What is perhaps the most impressive thing about the Liverpool defensive transformation is that it is not totally dependent upon a settled back four and goalkeeper. Obviously, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have been outstanding this season and it is no coincidence that they are ever-presents in the Premier League starting XI. Van Dijk looks as good as any defender ever seen in England’s top flight, and that includes all-time greats like John Terry, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. But there is a resilience and defensive aptitude that extends beyond the giant Dutchman. Joe Gomez was outstanding in the opening months of the season, but has barely been missed since breaking down, with Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren slotting in impressively in the centre. James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne have started the last two matches at right-back in the absence of injured first-choice Trent Alexander-Arnold and the difference has been negligible. Andy Robertson has been a mainstay on the other flank, but this Liverpool defence is superbly drilled and organised.