Players missing today Countinho, Matip, Sturridge and Ings?
That's not a heavy injury table and worrying to see a bench that's very weak.
Any chance of Matip being called up for AFCON given his form?
Lallana didn't start, I'd argue that he's fairly important to the way we play. Ido agree though that we're vulnerable to injuries (depending on who it is). Matip is the crucial one at the moment but I'd hate to lose Henderson given how he's played.
Matip has quit international football I think, or at least he's said he isn't going to the ACON.
Well that's partially the point. Having so much reliance on one player shows the lack of quality in that area. It's the same as Spurs having such a reliance on Kane for goals. Not to mention you've still got Lovren, that guy is good for at least one clown show moment a game.
That said you've conceded 18 goals so far. The most of any team in the top 8, let alone the top 4. So saying your defense is weak isn't exactly something preposterous.
Also I'm not suggesting your bad defense gives up 4 goals a game it's also based in games like the one against Spurs. You were the better side for most of the game but they weathered the storm and ended with LB Danny Rose scoring up the other end on a half decent attack.
Before today we'd only conceded 14 goals in 13 games and five of those had come in the first two games. We do have a lack of quality at CB though for sure. Klavan and Lucas are poor options to rely on when someone is injured, and Lovren still has bad games from time to time as you say. I think when you break down those goals conceded you see just how important Matip is. Half of them were conceded in three games where he didn't play.
I'd say that only Spurs and Chelsea can argue that they are better defensively than we are based on what's happened so far this season.