5 Solutions to Liverpool's Defensive Issues

Fifty goals conceded last season, 13 more than title winners Manchester City, arguably cost Liverpool Premier League glory.

The new season has started in similar fashion. Liverpool have been shipping goals and only recorded one clean sheet in their opening 10 games in all competitions.

The additions of £20 million Dejan Lovren, £12 million Alberto Moreno and loanee Javier Manquillo have added depth and attacking qualities—especially in the full-back areas—but failed to solidify Liverpool defensively.

Martin Skrtel continues to be Brendan Rodgers' first choice centre-back, while injuries have beset each of the Reds' defenders at some stage already this campaign.

So what can Rodgers do to solve the defensive issues? Here are five solutions.

Work on Defending Set Pieces

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Let's start with the obvious one, Liverpool's Achilles' heel is defending set pieces. We know it, Brendan Rodgers knows it, and opposing teams certainly know it.

Rodgers spoke of his disappointment at conceding yet another goal from a set piece in the Champions League defeat at Basel and must put time in on the training ground to eradicate the problems.

Not playing Martin Skrtel, a player more obsessed with grappling with his opponent than winning the ball, would certainly help here.

Sign a New 'keeper

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Simon Mignolet is a good shot-stopper, but he isn't commanding, doesn't organise his defence and therefore doesn't inspire confidence in the back line.

Mignolet doesn't have confidence in his defenders, and they don't have confidence in him. It's a pretty bad combination.

Victor Valdes is the man linked with a move to Anfield, and the Spaniard would certainly add experience and competition for the No. 1 position.

Valdes is also a 'keeper capable of playing the ball out from the back, something Mignolet struggles with.

Play Mamadou Sakho

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Frenchman Mamadou Sakho divides opinion, with the player's unorthodox style leading some supporters to believe he is error prone.

He isn't.

Signed for £18 million from PSG last summer, Sakho is France's first-choice centre-back for a reason.

He's quality in possession, strong in the air—something Liverpool really need—and if he is given a run of games, he will only develop further.

If Rodgers can get Sakho playing for Liverpool as well as he does at international level, then one solution is staring him in the face.

Find a Settled Centre-Back Pairing

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Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren have each had injuries in the opening months of the season—with Lovren now picking one up on international duty and Sakho being sidelined for another fortnight.

It's bizarre that 12 months after spending £18 million on Sakho, a left-sided centre-back, Rodgers spent £20 million on Lovren, who plays the same role.

Meanwhile, Skrtel has gone from unwanted to first choice.

Rodgers needs to find his best partnership and stick to it, injury allowing. So that could be a while yet.

Add Steel in Midfield

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The sight of opposing midfielders running through Liverpool's midfield at an unprotected back four has become commonplace this season.

Managers are targeting Steven Gerrard in his deeper role, knowing that the 34-year-old lacks the dynamism required to recover if and when he's dispossessed in the deeper role.

The solution is twofold: play Gerrard more sparingly in a more attacking role, and sign a combative, dynamic defensive midfielder in the Javier Mascherano mould. Somebody who will add steel to midfield and protection to the defence.