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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.

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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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