No one talks about how Liverpool have been bailed out by the defence, says Gigi Wijnaldum

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Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is keen to remind critics that the Reds’ impressive form is not just due to their wealth of attacking prowess, but also because of their improvement in defence. 

The Anfield side struck five past Watford last weekend while also keeping a clean sheet, with four of the strikes coming from Mohamed Salah and one from Roberto Firmino, with another no-look finish. NaijaBet.com

The Egyptian was involved in all five goals – setting up his Brazilian teammate for the third – and made all the headlines as he took his goal tally for the season to 36.

But for all of Liverpool’s strength going forward, their defensive improvements – especially the contributions of new arrival Virgil van Dijk – have seemed to have gone unnoticed.

The Reds have conceded just three goals in their last five league matches and have kept five clean sheets in their last seven games in all competitions. NaijaBet.com

Wijnaldum, however, wanted to to make sure that Liverpool’s defenders get as much of the plaudits as their attackers do.

“They are really good,” Wijnaldum told ESPN about the Reds’ lethal front three. NaijaBet.com

“Sometimes, you know, they get the credit because they are scoring the goals and make it really difficult for teams, but there are more players who help them to accelerate so they can perform, and a lot of people forget that others do the dirty work so they can attack.

“So as a team, a collective, everybody does it good rather than only speaking about those three. NaijaBet.com

“Of course they are wonderful. But I think Liverpool is more than Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah.

“You need people at the sharp end, but this season the back line has had a lot of criticism, but also a lot times they have done well for us,” added the Dutchman. NaijaBet.com

“There have been times when we didn’t play well but they saved us in games.

“There is no one who speaks about that because the front three, or the players up front, score the goals and we win. But I think that the defenders also did a good job, so it is something we must not forget.”

Van Dijk to the rescue

Since Liverpool secured the services of the Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January for £75m, their defensive form has improved for the better. NaijaBet.com

The Dutchman has been able to add a level of composure and calm to a Reds defence so often accused of succumbing to nerves, and after an adjustment period where he had to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s style, has played a hand in Liverpool’s last five clean sheets in seven matches.

The Reds have conceded six goals in the seven games Van Dijk’s started, losing just twice – with four of them coming up against Spurs and Man United.