Liverpool’s defensive heart building a platform for quadruple ambitions

Trent Alexander-Arnold had posted a tweet with a simple yet assertive message. “No Entry,” it read, accompanied by an image of his goalline clearance to deny a dink from Pablo Fornals.

“Our aim, first and foremost, is to keep a clean sheet,” the right-back said in the aftermath of Liverpool’s taxing 1-0 victory over West Ham. “We’ve been able to do that well over the last few weeks especially, but we want to make sure we keep it going.”

Naturally, a team that possesses the explosive artillery of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will be viewed through the prism of their offensive might.

Scoring three or more regularly does little to shake that framing, but it is at the other end of the pitch where the platform for a possible quadruple has been constructed.

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have only let in seven goals across all competitions. Two of those came against Chelsea, when they were still considered Manchester City’s closest competitors.

There have been nine shutouts, and denying David Moyes’ men on Saturday really sharpened the focus on how vital the habit of collecting clean sheets has been.

Liverpool’s rearguard were far from flawless at Anfield on Saturday evening, but they showed resolve. Their inability to properly contest second balls after the interval was a particular problem, countered by some incredible recovery work and lack of finishing touch from West Ham.

Manuel Lanzini ballooned the best opening, while Jarrod Bowen and the ever-excellent Michail Antonio were thwarted by what Jurgen Klopp described as “big passion.”

It was certainly required as West Ham had 10 shots from inside the box, only one less than their hosts in what was a brave and aggressive