Regardless of having much less possession than Man Metropolis, Liverpool’s win over Pep Guardiola’s workforce was an ideal instance of how the Reds are controlling video games underneath Arne Slot.
Typically, the workforce that finishes the match with extra possession is the facet to have been in command of proceedings.
That couldn’t have been farther from the reality, although, on Sunday, as Liverpool gained comfortably towards Man Metropolis regardless of having simply 44 p.c of the ball, in accordance with FotMob.
The visiting workforce additionally had extra possession when Liverpool beat Chelsea, Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield this season.
There’s a sample rising of the Reds with the ability to decide and select their moments to essentially put strain on the opposition, a cause maybe for Liverpool’s second-half brilliance this season.
Towards Man Metropolis, the above momentum graphic suggests Man Metropolis had the higher of proceedings for giant elements of the second half, however this wasn’t the fact.
With their possession, Guardiola’s facet created simply 0.84 anticipated targets (xG) in comparison with Liverpool’s 3.57.
FotMob tells us the Reds additionally had 18 pictures to Man Metropolis‘s eight, and 7 on the right track to the opposition’s two. In addition they created 5 huge possibilities, whereas the guests had only one.
Their one huge alternative was born from Virgil van Dijk‘s near-calamitous error within the 83rd minute, when he misplaced the ball to Kevin De Bruyne who was thwarted by Caoimhin Kelleher preserving his sixth membership clear sheet of the season.
Liverpool have scored 12 targets at Anfield since they final conceded, a month in the past towards Brighton.
On Sunday, the away workforce’s greatest interval got here instantly after Jeremy Doku entered the pitch within the 57th minute.
Taking part in on the left wing, the Belgian was a a lot larger risk to Trent Alexander-Arnold than Matheus Nunes, however Liverpool’s right-back handled him comparatively properly.
As demonstrated by the defensive actions graphic under from Stats Zone, Liverpool’s No. 66 was focused however accomplished extra tackles (4/4) than anybody else on the pitch and made six recoveries.
He additionally created two possibilities, accomplished 5 passes into the ultimate third and made three correct lengthy balls of 5 tried.
Regardless of the stats saying he was dribbled previous six instances, there was just one event on which you felt Doku actually obtained the higher of Liverpool’s right-back.
Alexander-Arnold additionally had Dominik Szoboszlai and Mo Salah operating in entrance, serving to defend the right-back.
Sunday’s win was arguably Szoboszlai’s greatest recreation of the season in a Liverpool shirt, as he created extra possibilities (4) and had extra touches (72) than any of his teammates bar Joe Gomez.
The efficiency and resultant 2-0 scoreline was an excellent instance of why Liverpool have been so good underneath Slot.
They have been adaptable to the in-game issues brought on by the opposition, however they picked their moments to take dangers themselves, urgent in a Jurgen Klopp-like model whereas preserving their full-backs barely deeper to cope with counter-attacks.
Liverpool are placing an ideal stability in the intervening time and that’s due to the brand new coach and his employees.
FotMob is a necessary app for each fan to maintain updated with their workforce or comply with soccer worldwide, their unimaginable new options present all you might ever need and knowledge you by no means knew you wanted! You possibly can obtain the FotMob App right here.
