Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel believes the mix of his no-nonsense defending and Daniel Agger's more cultured approach is proving an ideal match.
The pair have forged a solid partnership in central defence since vice-captain Jamie Carragher was injured in late October. Those four months have seen Skrtel and Agger become the preferred choice for Barclays Premier League matches and their record speaks for itself.
In 15 league matches they have helped the side keep eight clean sheets, conceding a total of 11 goals - including three apiece at Manchester City and Bolton. That defensive form has contributed to a record of letting in just 23 goals in 25 league matches, bettered only by leaders City.
Skrtel, in particular, appears to have grown in stature into a commanding centre-back, although the Slovakia international insists there has been no conscious change of attitude from him.
"I don't think I've deliberately tried to be more aggressive, as long as it's the right level of aggression," he said. "That's the way I try to do my job. It's the only way I know to play. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - at the moment it is.
"I'm delighted with the way the team had been defending this season. We've kept a lot of clean sheets and that gives defenders a lot of confidence. At the moment it's me and Daniel playing. It's easy to play with him. He's a top-quality player and great on the ball. The understanding between us is working. I don't think it's just with Daniel, I think I have a good understanding with Carra (Carragher) and Seba (summer signing Sebastian Coates) too - they are all top-quality players."
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In the showers I guess !! ha,ha.
Well done Martin & Dan!
You guys have been great at the back indeed!
Please get the midfielders integrate and be on the same page as you guys, because it is natural to trust each other when you see the midfielders are in control of the ball near the box but you'd tend to forget they (the midfielders) may not be really efficient at defending the ball, which led to most of the goals conceded thus far.
The stats we have are amazing, apart from scoring, best defense, most corners, most upright hits, shots, we just dont have lady luck looking at us when it comes to scoring, but very soon that will change, once Carroll learns how to move abit more, and our players get into the box for his head downs! Watch the games, and in the ones we lost we attack and control just dont score! its getting annoying but we will get their!
Skrtel!, you'll never walked alone. Agger, Sebastian, Glen J, Enrique, and rest of other players are with you.
so defence hard to win Trophies.
keep it up guys... defence in the English league wins trophies, and out of four teams competing for 4th... our defence is incomparable to theirs... so over the next 13 games, we should walk the talk YNWA
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