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Asmir Begovic: 'Liverpool players lack desire to defend'

Begovic: 'Liverpool no desire to defend'
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Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic says that the Liverpool team lack a "desire to defend".

Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has claimed that Liverpool's defensive problems extend to more than just an individual player.

Jurgen Klopp's men have conceded 16 goals in nine Premier League games, and once again, problems at the back were highlighted when the team were beaten 4-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday.

The Reds are particularly struggling away from home, having conceded all but one of the goals when on the road in the top flight.

Begovic, who joined Bournemouth from Chelsea in the summer, has questioned the players' mentality and the lack of "continuity" among the backline.

"I think for Liverpool it is a combination of things - communication, positioning and the desire to defend is lacking for Liverpool," the goalkeeper said on Sky Sports' The Debate show.

"They don't look organised, they don't look like they want to defend. I look at some of their players and the first thing is how good they can be on the ball, how they can pass and go forward and how the full backs can attack and join in. I don't think their first thought is defending.

"I think as a unit they look all over the place and there could be many reasons. Confidence once again is low and there are people making bad decisions so it seems to be a bit of a mess. They are not doing the basics of defending and I don't think they have the pride it takes to be a defender.

"I don't think it's one thing, I think it's them as a unit. I don't think they're working together and there's a lack of continuity with the centre-back pairings and the full-backs, I don't think changing the goalkeepers is helping."

Liverpool are currently ninth in the league table, 12 points behind leaders Manchester City.

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Danielle Joynson
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Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho in action during his side's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park on October 1, 2017
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


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