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'It's not like riding a bike' | Mark Lawrenson on Liverpool's sluggishness

BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson joined the Football Show on Off The Ball on Monday where he spoke about...



BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson joined the Football Show on Off The Ball on Monday where he spoke about the Liverpool defence.

The Premier League champions conceded three goals as they scrambled to a 4-3 win over newly-promoted Leeds in the opening game of the season - but Lawrenson is not concerned.

"They weren't great defensively," admitted Lawrenson of his former club.

"The great thing when ex-pros look at games like that you say 'well, they managed to win when they didn't play well.' That's how you win the league."

The BBC pundit saw something familiar in how Marcelo Bielsa's side approached the game.

"Leeds did a bit of a Liverpool on Liverpool," said Lawrenson.

Defensive frailties

"They just didn't play well," argues Lawrenson. "I think they were taken aback by how good Leeds were at going at them and going for the jugular.

"I wouldn't worry about that, it's very rare they concede three goals. I know you might point to that game against Watford last year when they didn't turn up, but no I wouldn't be [concerned], world-class players don't suddenly become poor players overnight.

"Klopp said afterwards 'it's not like riding a bike,' you don't just get back on the bike and off you go.

"There are certain things you have got to do defensively, every week, week-in, week-out. If you don't, as you saw on Saturday then you're in trouble, but I just think they had a bad day defensively."

Sluggish Liverpool

There will have been a refocusing at the club over the brief off-season, according to Lawrenson, who sees no cause for concern.

"At the start of the season everyone gets together and they don't say 'let's win the league again' or 'let's win the Champions League again.' They just settle to win anything.

"Also, I always feel in the first five to ten games of the season, you're looking at the opposition. Not just how they play against you but also are they fitter than you?

"It's a big thing because obviously everybody tries to get fit for the first game of the season.

"In terms of midfield players and forward players' touch, playing competitive games is the only way to gain fitness.

"So for Liverpool that was a fabulous workout. They didn't play particularly well without the ball but they won and that's all that really matters.

"That'll be first and foremost to Klopp, we won, but he will be making points to his players about what happened in the game," concluded Lawrenson.

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Jurgen Klopp Leeds Liverpool Marcelo Bielsa Premier League Ynwa