Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne has said that he is pleased with how the team have defended in recent matches.
No team in the top seven of the Premier League has conceded more goals than Liverpool this season, while Saturday's 0-0 draw against Southampton was only their second clean sheet of the season.
However, Clyne believes that his side are improving at the back, and praised the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane for leading the defensive effort from the front.
"We have been solid of late and not giving the opponents any chances to get a shot at goal and keeping it strong at the back. Also, credit to the forward players who are pressing really hard at the very top end of the pitch, which stops them creating any chances. Our total dominance of the football match is helping us defensively in the games," he told the club's official website.
"There is so much movement in our attacking players. Everyone is confident on the ball, everyone is very tricky and it's very difficult. You can see their quality in training and that quality pays off on a matchday. Seeing it from where I am at the back and when I'm helping them in attack, it's good to watch and hopefully it continues.
"[Jurgen] Klopp is more demanding of me to get forward and help out in attack. He likes his full-backs to join in with play whenever they can, and also be solid defensively so it helps my game. It has changed. When I first started the game, it was more about defending – coming up against your winger and trying to stop him, and being close to your centre-back. Nowadays, it has changed, it is more demanding for a full-back."
Liverpool will host Sunderland on Saturday looking for back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since March.
Barney Corkhill
