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Liverpool’s defence has been racking up some record-breaking numbers this season.
Steadied by the arrival of centre-back Virgil van Dijk in January and strengthened further by the signing of goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the summer, the Reds have conceded only three goals in their first nine league games this season – the club’s best-ever such start to a campaign.
No team has leaked fewer goals in Europe’s top five leagues this term.
Since Van Dijk’s arrival, Liverpool have conceded just 13 goals in 23 Premier League games.
And over the course of the last 38 – a full season – the Reds have shipped only 25 times.
Everything good, then?
Well, yes and no.
Because while Liverpool are setting new standards domestically, matters in Europe are considerably different.
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The 1-0 defeat at Napoli earlier this month means the Reds have now conceded 13 goals in their last six European matches.
And that’s Liverpool’s worst defensive record over such a period in their entire history.
Twice before have Liverpool conceded 12 goals in six European games, in 1966 during which they were beaten 5-1 at Ajax, and in 1992 when the low point was a 4-2 defeat at Spartak Moscow.
(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Of course, there is significant mitigation for the recent run.
The games in that period have all been in the Champions League, and before the trip to Napoli involved a quarter-final second leg at Manchester City following by home and away games against Roma in the semi-final, a clash in Kiev against Real Madrid in the final, and a group game this season at home to Paris Saint-Germain.
Not exactly easy. Indeed, three of the last six Champions League games have ended in defeat for the Reds.
A clean sheet against Red Star Belgrade would not only help drag Liverpool’s hopes of qualification for the group stage back on track.
It would also bring to an end one of the more curious Liverpool sequences of recent times.
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