Liverpool pegged back by defensive fragility yet again in biggest threat to Premier League title retention

A nervousness spread across the Liverpool defence long before Joel Matip was forced off with yet another injury that will only embolden the chasing back through the second half of the season

Joel Matip suffered another injury in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with West Brom (PA)

Andy Robertson’s post-match analysis at Anfield on Sunday was honest - “we all went slack. I think every one of us made a mistake in the second half” - and accurate, but also instructive.

As the left-back dissected a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion -  a match that couldn’t muster a plot twist to Sam Allardyce’s trademark script - he circled a reduction in their defensive confidence.

“Go and win the game 1-0,” he said, stating what Liverpool should have banked on themselves to do. “Go and keep a clean sheet and get the three points.”

Instead, the hosts’ play was riddled with anxiety and desperation to get a second goal as the minutes ticked on, which gifted possession and opportunities to West Brom. Semi Ajayi maximised one of them to cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener and the equaliser was both deserved and predictable.

The decision to keep forcing attacks from Liverpool even though the encounter had become extremely scrappy was bemusing, especially as the visitors were clearly encouraged by their sloppiness.

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Klopp’s side were not making life uncomfortable for West Brom offensively - they had two shots on target, one less than their opponents managed despite having over 80 per cent of the ball for the majority of the clash - yet persisted with this approach.

Robertson pinpointing their poor game management and lack of faith in seeing out the game spoke volumes.

Joel Matip’s injury on 60 minutes would have played a part in the champions not believing they could shut the visitors out. But in truth, their nervousness was already apparent when he was still on the pitch after the break.

Liverpool carved out a speciality of winning 1-0 last season, and of course, that talent has been hampered by the dual long-term loss of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez while every other member of the backline has been sidelined with injury at some stage apart from Robertson.

The loss of Matip through an adductor issue will embolden the chasing pack.

Staff at both Manchester clubs as well as at Chelsea and Leicester have privately stated they predict Liverpool will not be able to sustain winning despite their deficiencies at centre-back. That they have been able to ride the storm this well already has taken their rivals by surprise.

Liverpool's mentality has seen them respond to the setbacks exceptionally to still hold top spot, but the club now face a run of three away games in 10 days - against Newcastle, Southampton and Aston Villa - with youngsters Rhys Williams, Nathanial Phillips and Sepp van den Berg as their only natural options to partner Fabinho in the heart of defence.

Matip has completed consecutive league games just once this season and Liverpool have long known that they need to forward-plan for the position given Gomez’s injury woes as well.

They have rightly been averse to operating on short-termism with transfers and it would be hard to land a long-held defensive target like Ben White in January.

Ozan Kabak is a more achievable option and has good top-flight experience for a 20-year-old, but how would that translate at a club with the objective of winning the league and Champions League?

If Liverpool make a centre-back signing in January in part due to their current circumstances, there isn’t much room for an adjustment period.

Fortifying that area, though, is imperative.

“That’s why I said as soon as Virgil van Dijk went down at Everton, Liverpool had to do something in January,” club legend Jamie Carragher said during commentary on Sunday.

“Not because they haven’t got quality there: Fabinho looks like he’s played there all his life since he’s moved back but Matip just cannot play game after game after game and that’s what you want from centre-backs.

“I think most people would agree Liverpool are the strongest team in this country and favourites to win the league but the only thing that holds them back is that centre-back position and injuries and the threat of those young players (Williams and Nathaniel Phillips) playing together for a long period of time.

“That’s why I think it’s vital that Liverpool go into the market in January. Not that those lads aren’t good enough but it’s that their most experienced centre-back is too injury prone.”