Look back at Liverpool’s defence for last Watford trip underlines Klopp’s good work

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Liverpool travelled to face Watford on the opening day of the 2017/18 Premier League season with Simon Mignolet in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Alberto Moreno.

The result was a 3-3 draw where Liverpool’s backline once again undermined the good work done by its frontline as Mo Salah made an instant impact on his league debut for the club.

After just eight minutes, Stefano Okaka was allowed to wander in unmarked to nod a corner home and open the scoring before Sadio Mane equalised.

Just past the half hour mark, Liverpool’s failure to clear allowed Abdoulaye Doucoure to tap home but the Reds again responded, as Roberto Firmino equalised in the second half, two minutes before Salah made it 3-2.

Just as it looked like Liverpool would escape with a win, another defensive calamity followed in stoppage time. Gigi Wijnaldum failed to clear an inswingning corner, Mignolet flapped at the ball and Miguel Britos was able to nod in from close range.

Of the shambolic backline that started that match, only Alexander-Arnold will expect to start the clash between the sides tomorrow, which underlines the scale of the defensive transformation Klopp has overseen.

That should ensure that there is no repeat of the blundering that cost the Reds two points on their last Vicarage Road visit.