LIVERPOOL’S DEFENSIVE NAIVITY has cost them dearly during the Jurgen Klopp era.
For all their exhilarating attacking play, the Reds continue to leak often avoidable goals.
On Wednesday night, they went 3-0 up away to Sevilla in the Champions League and looked set to win comfortably.
However, the home side — who defeated Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final –staged a second-half comeback to earn a point.
Spanish full-back Alberto Moreno was culpable for two of the goals as he gave away a silly free-kick before being beaten at the near post by Wissam Ben Yedder for the first.
The former Sevilla full-back then conceded a penalty by bringing down the same player in the box.
At that point, Klopp, who has reinstated Moreno ahead of James Milner and summer signing Andy Robertson this season, opted to substitute him and end a nightmare evening.
Speaking on ITV last night, Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane was stinging in his criticism of the 25-year-old Spain international.
“He’s an international player,” said Keane. “You look at the free-kick he gave away, to me that’s nothing to do with the manager — [although] he has obviously selected him.
“You’ve got other players in the background, they’ve tried [James] Milner, they’ve bought [Andy] Robertson, and you’re thinking they obviously don’t fancy them at left-back.
So this guy keeps getting his game and what he’s doing for the penalty, you wouldn’t see a child doing it. The only word I’d use is madness… Pure madness for an international player to do that.
“We all know it’s a team game but sometimes you have to point the finger and say ‘Listen, you’re killing us, you’re costing us.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
