Joel Matip says Liverpool’s defence knows they have to improve and wants side to continue in same way

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Matip has impressed but the Reds have yet to record their first clean sheet of the season.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip has said the side is striving to improve at the back as they look for their first clean sheet in the Premier League, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Matip has impressed since his arrival from Schalke but the Reds have yet to record their first shut-out in the league. Matip has had three different partners so far in Dejan Lovren, Lucas Leiva and Ragnar Klavan.

He is quoted in the Liverpool Echo, saying: “A solid defence always helps to win games and it is always necessary for a good team.

“We have to improve but we know this. We will work hard towards getting better and keeping clean sheets because sometimes we may only be able to score one goal and we want that to be enough to win.”

Liverpool have been winning plaudits for much of their play so far this season, having scored 16 goals from their opening six league games – which has seen them win against Arsenal, Leicester City, Chelsea – with their latest victory coming against Hull City this weekend.

Matip added: “We have to continue to play this way and make the most of all our fixtures at Anfield. Our aim is to keep improving week by week.”

While Liverpool have been impressing in the way they press sides and seem to have a goal threat from nearly all areas of the team, there still remains a concern over their performance at the back. Were it not for David Meyler’s consolation strike at the weekend, there may have been an element of relief if they managed to get their first clean sheet in the league under their belts.

For now they are outscoring their opponents but clearly there is work to be done at the back. Structurally they look okay but they could do with a run of games with the same back five, including the goalkeeper, in order to establish that solidity. Injuries and illness to certain players play their part but Liverpool’s defence will be a talking point unless they keep a run of clean sheets in the near future.