It’s like Donald Trump having a pop at your hair.
If Liverpool fans were under any illusions that their side’s defence was good enough to see them through a season, Sunday made it clear that a change was absolutely necessary.
Dejan Lovren endured one of his worst games in a Liverpool shirt as he was embarrassed by Harry Kane on two occasions in the opening stages of the Reds’ trip to Wembley at the weekend.
Spurs hammered the visitors 4-1, with Liverpool having now conceded 15 goals away from home this season which is the Premier League’s worst by some margin.
The lack of leadership in Jurgen Klopp’s back four was pointed out by Graeme Souness in the Sky Sports studios while commentator Gary Neville certainly didn’t go easy on Lovren, whose repeated unreliability epitomised the issues faced by Klopp.
However the most damning indictment of Liverpool’s defensive woes came from a former player, Djimi Traore, who took to Twitter to make his feelings on the matter known.
no way you can win trophy with that defense #TOTLIV come on @LFC wake up
— Djimi Traore (@Djimi_Traore19) October 22, 2017
In case you needed your memory jogged on how Traore fared at Anfield, he was not exactly a rock in Liverpool’s back four and inspired the below song from his own supporters.
“Don’t blame it on the Biscan, Don’t blame it on the Hamann, Don’t blame it on the Finnan, Blame it on Traore, He just can’t, he just can’t, he just can’t control his feet.”
To be fair to Traore, he does have a Champions League winner’s medal to his name but he made quite a few mistakes when he sported the red jersey between 1999 and 2006.
And while some fans felt that Klopp’s assertion that Kane’s freedom “wouldn’t happen if I was on the pitch” was the most damaging criticism of the side’s current defending, most supporters viewed Traore’s tweet as the most conclusive eye-opener.
The defence is so bad, one of our worst ever defenders is having a pop. Jesus.
— RLFComps (@RLFComps) October 22, 2017
FFS lads even Djimi takin the piss #fsgout @LFC
— BOSSMANÈ (@B4LK4R4N) October 22, 2017
When djimi traore is slating your defence u really are in trouble
— nathan clarke (@nathan29c) October 22, 2017
You know when things are bad when big Djimis having a go ?
— Lee Edwards (@LeeEdwards16) October 22, 2017
Even big djimi traores having a go!!!! The irony ??
— Tony Kellett (@Tkells84) October 22, 2017
Lovren making Traore look like Maldini
— HHB (@KingofKens) October 22, 2017
When djimi traore is having a go at the Liverpool defence, you fully realise the magnitude of the defensive problem?#carryingpassengers
— James Kane (@TheHurrikane89) October 22, 2017
When one of the worst defenders in Liverpools history has a dig on our defence, dear me.
— Mathias Wädel (@Officialrebel_) October 22, 2017
Oh holy crap… we must be in serious trouble if Djimi is taking the piss…
— Philip Murray (@Philip1978) October 22, 2017