RTID and Woof Woof, I understand what you are saying both because I used to think the same. However, speaking to friends about the defence, they pointed out a number of things, in particular, things about Skrtel. So I started watching more of his play and movement, and what was pointed out to me was right.
1: When you watch him, you notice that he actually sits/drops really deep time after time and because of this, he drags the whole team back and plays the opponents strikers onside.
2: He has no pace, so he drops back.
3: Skrtel makes really bad and rash challenges and exposes the team because of this, especially those in the immediate vicinity. This this is because he has no positional idea or sense, then makes all the rash challenges
4: He’s terrible at communicating with his team mates. In fact, I don’t think he communicates at all which leaves his partner and other team mates with no idea as to what he is going to do at any moment. He could, all of a sudden burst forward to make one of his crazy rash challenges leaving his teams mates to wonder what the heck he is doing.
5: When you watch him, you notice that he really doesn’t anticipate anything. Anticipation is one sign of a good defender, he doesn’t it.
6 You know, LFC are having to go 5 at the back because of him (basically babysitting him) This is to cover his deficiencies.
7: He may win headers and make last ditch tackles, having said that, if that was the only thing to make a good defender, I’d be very good
. He may be good at headers in the opposition box, but in the LFC area, his heading is poor.
8: He actually makes other defenders and defending systems look rubbish. The other defenders we have are good, yet when they have to partner Skrtel, especially in a 4 man defence system, they always look rubbish. I remember Hyppia and Henchoz, they always has very good comms between them, anticipating things all the time and taking up good positions to stop the opposition in their track. With Skrtel, there is none of this.
9: When you watch him, watch how he gets bullied by any opposition player that shows/has a bit of physical strength
10: Agger and Carra actually worked their game around Skrtel and made him look good (shame BR didn’t notice this). Agger and Carra were both pulling the strings. Agger and Carra were deep lying defenders, though, when they were around, LFC actually played a deeper line, therefore not really a problem. The major issue LFC face now is that he is playing with players that just aren't sure what he is going to do at any moment, hence LFC, defensively, look all over the place. LFC could really do with a defensive coach right now, but this is one aspect, he is a problem because of the things I mentioned above. If LFC really want to stop the opposition in their track and push up high to deny space, Skrtel wouldn’t know what to do because he’ll be looking to drop off. All this without any comms to his team mates or whoever is partnering him that this is want he’s doing, which then leaves wide space either side of him. I think that if he wants to help himself, he must start to communicate.