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.

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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City109103562928
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd107212341923
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs106221971220
4Chelsea106131810819
5Arsenal106131913619
6Liverpool104421716116
7Watford104331518-315
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9423108214
9Burnley934289-113
10Southampton933389-112
11Huddersfield TownHuddersfield10334713-612
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton9324910-111
13Stoke CityStoke103251120-911
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom10244913-410
15Leicester CityLeicester92341214-29
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham102351019-99
17Swansea CitySwansea10226712-58
18Everton9225718-118
19Bournemouth10217614-87
20Crystal Palace10118421-174
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