Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes Liverpool defenders such as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are “making mistakes” because of the lack of protection they are being given.

Both centre-backs (along with Joel Matip) have been well below their best this season but Wright thinks it is a consequence of poor pressing higher up the pitch:

“The way that they played when they dominated. It was like a full core press with pure energy. From front to midfield. This is why you couldn’t get to people like Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. You are looking at Van Dijk and Gomez, in certain situations [now] and think, ‘wow, I didn’t know you could get by him like that’. They’re making mistakes. This is because of the way they defended from the front, winning the ball and it was relentless.”

Wright is bang on the money with his assessment. Van Dijk and Gomez have been made to look average by the lack of closing down in midfield and forward areas.

If you play a high line and give opponents time to make a pass, it leaves the back four terribly exposed, and it causes all sorts of problems for centre-halves.

Admittedly, manager Jurgen Klopp has tried a mid-block in recent matches, which should have helped the likes of Gomez, but it appears the change may have come too late. Players are so low in confidence at the moment that they are even getting the basics wrong.