tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337796602024-03-12T18:03:29.909-04:00oh you beautyWhat a hit son, what a hitnatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comBlogger2386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-19674046599934046042019-08-08T09:46:00.001-04:002019-08-08T09:46:57.043-04:002019-20 Liverpool Season PreviewThis season preview will read a lot like the last. Because this season should look a lot like the last. Which, as I suspect you remember, is very much a good thing. <br />
<br />
I mean, Liverpool probably won't get 97 points again – a total only two sides have ever surpassed. Real Madrid's three-peat from 2015-16 through 2017-18 is the the only time there has been back-to-back Champions League winners in the last 30 years, since AC Milan in 1988-89 and 1989-90. <br />
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Doing those things again is gonna be hard.<br />
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That said, if you've spent your summer complaining about Liverpool's lack of transfers, you probably shouldn't have. For multiple reasons.<br />
<br />
Sure, there's the sanity aspect. Sun being good for everyone and all. Your favorite internet basement clichés. But more importantly, Liverpool really didn't need to add anyone. Honestly. Not after what was spent and who was signed in the previous two or three windows. Not after what Liverpool accomplished last season, which seems to feel mostly sustainable; Liverpool ran hot at both ends of the pitch at times, but neither xG nor xG allowed was a ton different than actual goals scored and conceded. And not with a handful of players already on the books expected to play far bigger roles this season. <br />
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There ain't a whole lot of room for improvement. There are marginal gains to be made, to be sure, but continuity and cohesion are the priority.<br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/CZrBZ1G.png" width="350"><br />
<br />
The only surprise is that Liverpool failed to sign a back-up left back after Moreno's exit, but Klopp's gotta be happy with Milner and Gomez if needed. He's definitely happy with Gomez to play at right back, and Clyne's gotta still be at the club for a reason. And for what it's worth, both Adam Lewis and Yasser Larouci had runs in preseason too.<br />
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"Like a new signing" is often nonsense, but Keïta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gomez, and Origi will all play more minutes than last season, and some by a vast difference. Three of them are between 24 and 26 years old, while Joe Gomez turned 22 a couple months ago. Plus, Adam Lallana, which, whatever, he exists and is squad depth. I'd be surprised if Shaqiri didn't see more minutes as well. And I'm setting the over/under for Rhian Brewster's minutes at what Origi saw in 2018-19: 585 minutes. <br />
<br />
I will be surprised if Keïta or Oxlade-Chamberlain don't become close to regular starters, taking a decent amount of minutes off either Henderson or Wijnaldum or both. Last season, Klopp compensated for a lack of creativity and goals from midfield with both fullback involvement and that front three, but it was still one of the bigger concerns. Not that any of Klopp's sides over the last few seasons have featured goal-scoring or table-setting midfielders; Oxlade-Chamberlain's five goals and seven assists in the PL and CL in 2017-18 are still the high-water for a Liverpool midfielder in the last four seasons. But it would be another helpful arrow in the quiver. <br />
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And yeah, you can probably find more talented players than Origi, Shaqiri, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Brewster – Liverpool's primary attacking back-ups – in the transfer market. But Liverpool aren't paying £40m or more for back-ups to this XI, and – tweaks, injuries, and questions in midfield aside – this is the XI. <br />
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Plus, it really is a reasonably deep side. And, more importantly, it's a side that's found the tenuous balance between being in relatively young and/or in its prime and being both settled and experienced.<br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/ifXQReg.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ifXQReg.png" width="640"></a><br />
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<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/yRqoqTa.png?1" width="640"><br />
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Liverpool have the same players, many of them peak age, after a 97-point domestic season where Liverpool won the Champions League. Liverpool will play the same formation and style, with few tweaks to the starting XI, at least at the beginning of the season.<br />
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All but eight players who'll probably feature this season were either signed or promoted from the Academy by Jürgen Klopp. Lallana, Lovren, and Clyne don't much count at this point, while Firmino, Milner, and Origi have all played the vast majority of their matches – and vastly improved as players – under this manager.<br />
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13 of 25 players listed in the "When Did They Debut?" graphic have made more than 76 Liverpool appearances – two full league campaigns – but only five have made more than 150 appearances, with only Henderson above 200. <br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/wWOBBFk.png" width="425"><br />
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10 of Liverpool's 11 projected starters are between 24 and 29 years-old, with Alexander-Arnold still only 20. Aside from the 33-year-old ageless miracle that is James Milner, Liverpool's primary backups are 22 (Gomez), 24 (Keïta, Origi), 25 (Oxlade-Chamberlain), and 27 (Shaqiri). All of them have been at the club for at least one full season, if not longer. <br />
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Liverpool had the <a href="https://experimental361.com/2018/05/13/squad-age-profiles-premier-league-2017-18/" target="blank">youngest average squad age in 2017-18</a>, and the <a href="https://experimental361.com/2019/05/13/squad-age-profiles-premier-league-2018-19/" target="blank">fifth-youngest in 2018-19</a>. I suspect they'll be slightly higher up that table in this season.<br />
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Reasonably experienced but still reasonably young. Still with a bunch to prove, yet already having won the most prestigious trophy in European football. <br />
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It is very hard to find that balance.<br />
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Even Liverpool's fixture list isn't too bad, although it'll undoubtedly be made harder by some very congested periods.<br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/4MVu8mF.png" width="640"><br />
<img src=https://i.imgur.com/Sq99yxA.png"" width="640"><br />
<br />
October into November will be tricky, and December and January have some less than fun matches back to back to back – especially since the Club World Cup's gonna truly mess December up – but there are few stints where you go "oh crap." Which, again, is a lot like last season. <br />
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Injury or act of Fowler aside, Liverpool will remain very good. But so will their peers. <br />
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Tottenham clearly look like improving, adding Ndombele, Lo Celso, and Sessegnon, whether or not they sell Eriksen today. Spurs made the Champions League final and finished fourth, and probably would've finished third if not for the European distraction. I am curious how they adjust to new faces after going nearly two full seasons with the same XI but they're still probably the third best team in the division, and the biggest threat to leap-frogging Liverpool. <br />
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Chelsea and Arsenal remain in periods of adjustment. Chelsea's on yet another new manager and lost Hazard but added Pulisic and remains Chelsea and who the hell ever knows with them. It's Year Two for Unai Emery and Arsenal's spent a pile of money on Nicolas Pepe but still has that defense, even if Tierney and David Luiz should make it both better and more amusing. <br />
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At least we still get to point and laugh at Manchester United, who could well be passed by one or two from Everton, Wolves, West Ham, and Leicester if they start the season poorly.<br />
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And Manchester City are still Manchester City. That fucking team. Liverpool were one point off their insane pace last season thanks to millimeters and goal-line technology. Liverpool start this season one step behind yet again, losing on penalties in the Community Shield after controlling the majority of the match. Like Liverpool, they're mostly peak age. Agüero, Fernandinho, Otamendi, and David Silva are getting up there but Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Jesus, Sané, Laporte, Ederson, Rodri, Stones, Foden, Zinchenko, and new signing Joao Cancelo are all 25 or younger, while Gundogan, de Bruyne, and Mahrez are still only 28.<br />
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
It will be a hell of a challenge to usurp City. But Liverpool remain the best placed to do so. <br />
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So, that said. I've a bit of housekeeping.<br />
<br />
This'll probably be the last thing up on Oh You Beauty for a while. <br />
<br />
A few of you already knew. More may have guessed, especially when I went an entire summer without writing – although an almost complete lack of transfers probably didn't help. <br />
<br />
It's been almost 13 years. Nearly 2400 posts. I don't even want to guess how many words. <br />
<br />
There is an insane surplus of writing talents around these tubes these days. And that certainly wasn't the case two, five, ten years ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed" target="blank">Andrew Beasley</a> remains one of the best stats writers. <a href="https://twitter.com/GraceOnFootball" target="blank">Grace Robertson</a> is my favorite "new" writer, putting in great Liverpool work in a bunch of places. <a href="https://twitter.com/Kristian_Walsh" target="Blank">Kristian Walsh</a> has a hell of a group getting going at <a href="https://www.liverpool.com/" target="blank">Liverpool.com</a>. I am thrilled that the good folks at <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" target="blank">The Liverpool Offside</a> are still around. There's <a href="https://anfieldindex.com/" target="blank">Anfield Index</a>, there's <a href="https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/" target="blank">The Anfield Wrap</a>. <br />
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There will be good information and analysis on the internet and I may even write some of it. Just not every week. I will still be on Twitter, making terrible jokes that I demand more of you laugh at. And I might throw something up here, or for somewhere else, from time to time. But no more deadlines, no more weekly infographics or match reviews. At least for now.<br />
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It's time to actually enjoy a season. Because we're probably going to damned well enjoy this one. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-12050952578026636552019-06-11T23:08:00.000-04:002019-06-12T07:48:40.637-04:00Liverpool Goals Scored and Conceded 2018-19<a href="https://i.imgur.com/oAUs2JG.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/oAUs2JG.png" width="640"></a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/tot3uR5.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/tot3uR5.png" width="640"></a><br />
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<b>Previous Seasons:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2017-18</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2017/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2016-17</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2016/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2015-16</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2015/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2014-15</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2014/05/liverpool-goals-for-and-against-2013-14.html" target="blank">2013-14</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2013/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2012-13</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2012/05/liverpool-goals-scored-and-conceded.html" target="blank">2011-12</a><br />
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Could Liverpool keep up last season's insane scoring pace? Almost. And "almost" was pretty damned good considering last season's ferocious nonsense.<br />
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So, yeah, Liverpool scored 20 fewer goals than in 2017-18, playing three fewer games. But Liverpool scored more in the Premier League this season, with 89 goals compared to last season's 84.<br />
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And Liverpool's scoring – in the league, in Europe – was still extraordinarily good. <br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/2dI8QL8.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/2dI8QL8.png" width="640"></a><br />
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The difference in scoring between this season and last is the Champions League. 47 goals in 2017-18, 24 goals in 2018-19. Liverpool scored 24 goals in just four CL matches last season: 7-0 Maribor, 7-0 Spartak, 5-0 Porto, 5-2 Roma. <br />
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But Liverpool won the Champions League this season, after falling at the last hurdle last season. Because goals scored – while incredibly, incredibly fun – aren't the end all, be all. You need to be decent at the other end of the pitch as well. <br />
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Liverpool were more than decent at the other end of the pitch. <br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/QAUM70V.png" width="640"><br />
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We know the attack wobbled at times. Early in the season, adapting to 4-2-3-1 and Salah as a striker, and in late January-February, those in-the-end-costly 1-1 and 0-0 draws. But the defense rarely did. <br />
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And, for what it's worth, xG tracks quite closely in attack all season long. And xG allowed stayed surprisingly consistently all season long. <br />
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That mid-season rise in goals allowed, to barely above a goal-per-game average for a couple of games, is so noticeable because this defense was historically great for the vast majority of the season.<br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/eyS1JX9.png" width="600"><br />
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Incidentally, it remains hilarious that Liverpool almost won the league in 2013-14 with that many goals conceded. <br />
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Anyway. <br />
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2018-19 saw Liverpool's best defense in at least 13 seasons. Because, unsurprisingly, I have caveats for the above chart. Well, really, just one caveat. <br />
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That caveat is that it could be longer since.<br />
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2018-19 saw the fewest Liverpool goals in a league campaign since 1978-79, when Liverpool won the league conceding a hilariously low 16 goals in 42 games. Otherwise known as "40 years ago." 2005-06 was close, and damned good, and maybe better because Liverpool conceded fewer in all competitions while playing that many damned games, but I'll also remind that 2005-06 saw Liverpool start the Champions League at the first qualifying round, conceding three in six games against the likes of TNS, FBK Kaunas, and CSKA Sofia. Without those games, Liverpool's average that season is 0.732, barely worse than this season's. For what it's worth. <br />
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Anyway. Recent history. <br />
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Liverpool actually allowed more shots in the Premier League in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18 – 307 this season to 283 last season. Liverpool allowed 310 in 2016-17. So, par for the recent course, I guess. <br />
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But Liverpool allowed 53 clear-cut chances in the league last season, with 25 scored. An average of 1.4 per game, with nearly half going in and only 36% of those on-target saved. They allowed 54 in 2016-17, with 26 scored – 1.4 per game and 37% saved. Liverpool allowed 39 clear-cut chances this season – down to 1.02 per game – with only 11 scored and 56% of those on-target saved by Alisson. <br />
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Yes, there are a few concerns. 12 of Liverpool's 38 goals conceded – 31.6% – came from set plays. Which is a vastly higher proportion than recent seasons. And 12 conceded from set plays is almost exactly in line with recent seasons; Liverpool conceded 13 in both 2016-17 and 2017-18. But when the goals conceded total drops precipitously, it's slightly surprising when the amount of set plays goals conceded remains the same. At the same time, Liverpool can still be picked apart on the counter, even if far less often, with fast break goals given up against PSG, Wolves, and Fulham. We still got a handful of notable defensive errors, even from Alisson and van Dijk. <br />
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But at this point, it's nit-picking. <br />
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The opposition's scoring less, and a lot has to do with the opposition finding it harder to get good chances in good locations, which had very much been a problem in past seasons. The opposition doesn't get many shots, but those that they do are good chances in good positions. Not so much this season. But at the other end of the pitch, Liverpool are getting more and more in those good positions.<br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/KMq6eIx.png" width="600"><br />
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<img src="https://i.imgur.com/6ERLLZM.png" width="600"><br />
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More Danger Zone goals in each of Klopp's seasons, with an absolute mountain in this one, both in proportion and total. Far fewer from outside the box, especially this season (how's Barcelona, Phil?). And the opposite is mostly the case for the opposition. Fewer Danger Zone goals, because fewer Danger Zone chances. Outside the box goals remained fairly consistent, because they aren't many and even the likes of Karius and Mignolet usually saved those. And there are more wide box goals because there were more wide box shots. That's what Liverpool usually gave the opposition, when they gave them anything. <br />
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In case you wanted more statistical validation, I got Liverpool's xG per shot this season as 0.137 versus 0.119 last season, with xG per shot allowed at 0.096 this season compared to 0.114 last season. And I love statistical validation because it makes me feel smart. <br />
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And, also, Liverpool's opponent didn't score a single penalty all season long. I can't remember that ever happening before. With only Mahrez missing from the spot. So they're not only talented and resilient and well-coached, they're clever and lucky. It's a very good combination.<br />
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This Liverpool attack and this Liverpool defense were a pretty good combination. <br />
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A few other assorted notes: <br />
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• I complained about how many late goals Liverpool conceded last season – both right before halftime and in the final few minutes. There were a lot fewer this season, even when considering how many fewer goals were conceded in total. And Liverpool could not stop scoring in those final few minutes. 32 goals between the 76th and 90th minutes, nine more than any other 15-minute block. Seven of those 32 came in the 90th minute or added time. And 20 of those 32 came with Liverpool behind, level, or only ahead by one goal, crucial late goals to win or cement the game, or at least take a point. <br />
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• This is the first season that I can remember when Liverpool almost had as many left-footed goals as right-footed goals. There's Salah, of course, but also a surprising six from Mané and a handful from Shaqiri and Sturridge. And also a higher proportion of headed goals than usual too, with another surprising return from Mané, as well as van Dijk et al. Of course, you're gonna score headed goals with Robertson and Alexander-Arnold crossing the ball. <br />
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• Not a ton of prolific assist-scorer combinations this season. Firmino to Salah, Salah to Firmino, and Mane to Salah last season all dwarfed this season's combinations. But I guess that's not surprising when Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are tops in assists, and not only do they rarely if ever score themselves, they spread the wealth; Alexander-Arnold set up nine different scorers, Robertson eight. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-73872261030259856062019-06-03T11:50:00.003-04:002019-06-03T11:50:34.945-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-4-0-barcelona.html" target="Blank"><I>Barcelona (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-3-2-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-0-3-barcelona.html" target="blank"><I>Barcelona (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-5-0-huddersfield.html" target="Blank">Huddersfield (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1372676/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-Tottenham-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/YqTEtNW.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/YqTEtNW.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
It is more than fitting that we end this campaign with a defensive masterclass. <br />
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2016-17, 2017-18, Liverpool sides defined by the heights hit in attack. Salah, Mané, Firmino just tearing' shit up. Liverpool sides that were tremendously fun. But Liverpool sides which won fuck all. <br />
<br />
That ain't this Liverpool side.<br />
<br />
It has been a long process getting Liverpool's defense to the level where an early goal can mean 88 minutes of defensive shell and that defensive shell actually holding firm for said minutes. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/fXYHMr4.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/fXYHMr4.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/H8xbfSv.png" width="400"><br />
<br />
Yes, yes, Premier League only, because that's what I've got on-hand, but the Champions League has seen similar. The shots allowed this season have been vastly less threatening, the opposition are putting fewer on-target, and Liverpool's goalkeeper has saved more of them. This shouldn't be news to anyone who's seen Liverpool this season and last. <br />
<br />
There's Virgil van Dijk. Alisson Becker. But, again, team. Joël Matip starting the season as fourth choice but finishing with an admittedly half-fit Harry Kane in his pocket. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, in attack but also at the back. Fabinho. Gomez for the first half of the season, Lovren when fit and needed.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, there's Van Dijk's last man tackle on Son's break in the 75th minute. Alexander-Arnold's crucial block on Dele Alli in the 54th minute. Alisson's eight saves, all of them after the 65th minute. Liverpool may well not win without those moments. There are a lot of defensive moments like that we can point to all season long, whether Napoli in the group stage or Barcelona a few weeks ago or etc etc etc. <br />
<br />
There have been multiple reasons for the defensive improvement. Here's one. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alisson Becker, Liverpool 18-19 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE radar and shots faced. <a href="https://t.co/DlsmCRnvav">pic.twitter.com/DlsmCRnvav</a></p>— StatsBomb (@StatsBomb) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsBomb/status/1135504589783019520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Otherwise known as the guy who made eight saves between the Tottenham's first substitution and Liverpool's second goal. <br />
<br />
And while we've seen the most statistical improvement in the Premier League, Liverpool's defense has been better in the Champions League this season as well. A bit. Just nowhere near as much compared to the league improvement. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/xF2hmmf.png"><br />
<br />
I'm more than willing to credit that to the opposition. Liverpool's run last year was easier, even if easier is very much a relative term. The group included a side which ended up seventh in La Liga, a side which finished third in Russia, and the second-placed Slovenian side; the knockout rounds had Manchester City, but also Porto (1st in Portugal) and Roma (3rd in Italy). We had Liverpool's goal-average insanely boosted by 7-0 wins over Spartak and Maribor, but there were more impressive five-goal performances against Roma and Porto.<br />
<br />
This year, we had the mega-rich runaway Paris St-Germain, Italy's second best side in Napoli, and Serbian Champions Red Star Belgrade in the group; the German winners, Spanish winners, and Portuguese runners-up in the knockout rounds. No European fixture is truly easy, etc, but that's an awful lot of league winners that Liverpool had to beat to lift this trophy for the sixth time. <br />
<br />
There isn't a ton to analyze from Saturday's match because of Liverpool's early penalty. It truly defined the game, and led Liverpool to play quite a bit differently than I expect they would have without scoring in the first few minutes. Had Liverpool's attack played like *that* in a match that stayed 0-0, who knows. <br />
<br />
But that penalty also led to a match which demonstrated just how far Liverpool have come at the back. And that's more than good enough for me. <br />
<br />
So Saturday was and wasn't in keeping with a lot of what we'd already seen this season. Sure, that was Liverpool's least possession and lowest passing accuracy in a match this season. We saw few dangerous opportunities on the break, no shots or key passes from Mané, probably not helped by a disjointed and not match-fit Firmino. We got far more shots from distance, in proportion and in total, than is usual this season. <br />
<br />
It was also very hot, very humid, and there had been three weeks since either team played a competitive fixture, and it showed.<br />
<br />
But we got a fairly lucky Liverpool goal and a Liverpool set play goal. An early goal and a late goal. And some very good defending in between. Yep, this season's Liverpool does that. <br />
<br />
Liverpool scored first and shut up shop. Tottenham couldn't break through until making substitutions, starting by sacrificing midfield for attack with Moura for Winks, with just six shots for the opening 65 minutes then ten in the final 25, including all eight on target. <br />
<br />
But Liverpool had already made its substitutions. Klopp, more proactive than usual in the heat and after a three-week layoff, brought on Origi for the counter that was always coming and Milner for fresh legs and pressing and midfield compactness and experience. <br />
<br />
And, yes, Tottenham could have equalized with better finishing or worse goal-keeping. Lucas Moura did have a clear-cut chance, put off-target rather than needing to be saved. We've seen shots from where Eriksen's free kick was taken beat previous Liverpool goalkeepers. Tottenham are a good side and Pochettino's no fool. But Liverpool were prepared for what was coming, planned accordingly, and saw everything out. Unlike the meeting at Anfield two months ago, where Liverpool were pushed back and back and back by Tottenham's changes and were lucky to stay at 1-1 and somehow even got 2-1 at the death. It is good to be lucky, better to be good, and best to be lucky and good. <br />
<br />
This Liverpool side did it. Thankfully, because I don't know if I could have taken another "so close, yet so far" moment.<br />
<br />
This was Liverpool's fourth final. Losses in the League Cup and Europa League in Klopp's first season, the loss in last season's Champions League. They'd yet to lose in a two-legged European tie, whether 2015-16, 2017-18, or 2018-19. This was the first time that Liverpool had been favored in a final. And Liverpool were coming off a league campaign where they'd scored the third-most points in Premier League history and only finished second. And had three weeks to think about it. Liverpool were in dangerous of becoming 1970s Netherlands at best – bridesmaids rather than brides, remembered for fun sides and beautiful football and not winning with it. And that's seemingly a best case scenario.<br />
<br />
But that did not happen.<br />
<br />
This Liverpool side deserved far, far more than nearly. This Liverpool side is far, far better than nearly. Promised finally fulfilled. And you can't help feeling that it's only just begun. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-27304885308811635432019-06-01T17:31:00.002-04:002019-06-01T17:31:18.959-04:00Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham<b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/CcgEjsV.png" /><br />
Salah 2' [pen]<br />
Origi 87'<br />
<br />
It was a game governed and decided by a contentious second-minute penalty. It was a game played in 90º heat. It was a game played 20 days since these sides last played a competitive fixture, because sure let's wait until June. Incidentally, this is the first time that Liverpool have ever played a competitive match in June.<br />
<br />
And I do not care, because Liverpool just won the Champions League, for the sixth time in the club's history.<br />
<br />
I almost feel bad for Tottenham. We're less than 27 seconds in. Liverpool are in a dangerous position, a chip over Tottenham's back line finding Mané with a modicum of space in the penalty box, albeit wide and deep. So Mané goes for the cross, as Sissoko – who's marking him – has his arm raised, ostensibly directing a team mate. And Mane's cross is off both chest and arm and the arm's in an unnatural position and sure it's a penalty who knows what a penalty is anymore. <br />
<br />
Salah scores and it's 1-0 before we've even drawn breath. And from there, Liverpool play accordingly, especially given circumstances with weather and potential fatigue and the fact it's between two sides who know each other as well as two sides can. Liverpool went full Tony Pulis: soak up pressure, look long. This Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool, went full Pulis in a Champions League final.<br />
<br />
And it worked. It bloody worked. I can't even. <br />
<br />
It worked despite <a href="https://twitter.com/ghostgoal/status/1134911153019260928" target="Blank">Liverpool completing their fewest passes in a half this season in today's first half</a>, despite Liverpool's <a href="https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/1134932855828692994" target="blank">lowest passing accuracy of the season</a>. The order of the day was long balls to Salah and Mané, especially with Firmino not at his best after that injury a few weeks back. And there were half-sights every now and then, but Liverpool rarely had the ball, as much by design as Tottenham necessity. Most importantly, no one really had chances for the first two-thirds of the match outside of the penalty.<br />
<br />
It worked because Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip were absolute mountains, especially Joel Matip – who had Kane lurking around him more often than not, even if it was a half-fit Harry Kane.<br />
<br />
It worked because Alexander-Arnold and Robertson know how to defend as well as attack. Today's tempo and tenor restricted both in the opposition half, but both did as needed at the other end. <br />
<br />
It worked because Alisson made eight saves – all in the final 20 minutes – even if most were routine and all were expected. <br />
<br />
It worked because Tottenham's substitutions and alterations didn't affect the match as they did in the previous meeting at Anfield, with Klopp acting first and practically: Origi for Firmino and Milner for Wijnaldum. Meanwhile, Lucas Moura, Dier (because of injury to Sissoko), and Llorente did little to change proceedings. Well, the game became more open as Tottenham threw more and more forward, but Liverpool like it when the game becomes even more. <br />
<br />
It worked because a set play finally came off, albeit not until three minutes from time. Van Dijk's shot's blocked, the ball's not fully cleared, and it falls to Origi. Divock Origi, on the left side of the box. Divock Origi, smashing the ball across and past Lloris with his left foot. Divock Origi, <a href="https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/1134925779647836162" target="blank">who scored with all three of his Champions League shots this season</a>: the first goal in the semi-final second leg, the fourth goal in the semi-final second leg, and the game-killer in the final.<br />
<br />
Again, I can't even.<br />
<br />
"I can't even" an awful lot with this team. It worked because this team is a damned team. It is a fully oiled, fully organized all consuming machine: from a defense unrecognizable to that of a year or two ago, a still unheralded and underrated midfield that almost always does what's asked of it, that front three, and a surprisingly deep bench when almost everyone's available. <br />
<br />
It is a team that nearly broke records in the Premier League if not for one of the most expensive and dominant sides ever. And it is a team that finally won a European final after harshly falling at the previous two hurdles.<br />
<br />
It deserves this. Every single one of them deserve this. And the more that's to come. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-89779475156139407912019-05-23T09:11:00.003-04:002019-05-23T09:15:35.823-04:00Premier League Cann Table 1995 – 2019 <a href="https://i.imgur.com/cWzAwEg.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/cWzAwEg.png" width="640" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Click to open in new window</span><br />
<br />
So, Cann Tables. Seasons on the X-Axis, points on the Y-Axis. A way to look at the actual points gaps season by season. Liverpool's points total was really good in 2018-19, especially compared to the rest of the league save one side, compared to the previous couple of seasons, compared to Liverpool over the past two decades and more. I, unsurprisingly, wondered how much.<br />
<br />
The above shows the last 24 seasons, the Premier League's history minus the first three seasons, when there were 22 sides in the division. <br />
<br />
And it looks as if the league is getting more spread out.<br />
<br />
4th place has remained fairly consistent – you need right around 70 points for an almost-assured Champions League place, as it's seemingly always been. But City are putting up record points over the last two seasons, with Liverpool hot on their heels in this one; it's gonna take more to win the league these days. The range between 5th and 17th is getting steadily wider – better sides at the top, fewer truly terrible sides at the bottom. But there has usually been at least one or two hilariously bad relegated teams over the last few seasons – no one to the level of Derby's record low in 2007-08, but consistently one if not two sides below 30 points over the last five-to-ten seasons.<br />
<br />
And then there's Liverpool, bouncing their way across the upper echelons of the division. Peaks and valleys. <br />
<br />
We're all well aware that Liverpool finished with the highest points total for a second-place side in 2018-19. That Liverpool finished with the third highest Premier League points total ever, behind only City in this season and the last. <br />
<br />
What else, what else…<br />
<br />
• It's the largest gap between a second and third placed side: 25 points. The previous high was 19 in 2011-12, when the Manchester sides finished even on goal difference with Arsenal leading the trailing pack far behind. <br />
<br />
• It is just the fifth time in the last 24 years that the title has been decided by a point or less: 1997-98 and 1998-99, Arsenal over United and United over Arsenal; Chelsea over United in 2009-10; and City over United on goal difference in 2010-11. The gap between 1st and 2nd has been reasonably substantial since: 11 points in 2012-13, two points in 2013-14 (sigh), eight points in 2014-15, ten points in 2015-16, seven points in 2016-17, and 19 points (!!!) in 2017-18. <br />
<br />
• Liverpool's average points totals from the last 24 seasons is exactly 69 points. The average points total for 4th place over the last 24 seasons is 68.96. I'm just saying. <br />
<br />
• Maybe most meaningfully, this was Liverpool's third largest season-to-season improvement, 22 points better than last season, behind only the 24 gained from 2004-05 to 2005-06 in Benitez' first and second seasons and the 23 in 2012-13, Rodgers' first and second seasons. Incidentally, Liverpool regressed by 14 points in 2006-07 and 22 points in 2014-15. <br />
<br />
More like "potentially" most meaningfully, I guess. Because consistency. Consistency is the next step. That and Manchester City. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-18801349842387690802019-05-14T11:51:00.000-04:002019-05-14T11:51:01.399-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-4-0-barcelona.html" target="Blank"><I>Barcelona (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-3-2-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-0-3-barcelona.html" target="blank"><I>Barcelona (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-5-0-huddersfield.html" target="Blank">Huddersfield (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1285062/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Wolverhampton-Wanderers" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/whiBRo6.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/whiBRo6.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
In a lot of ways, this was very much an end-of-season affair, at least once news of City's goals filtered through. Both sides were below average in shots and Expected Goals. There were a couple of goals from the home side, early and late, to keep the process moving, but nothing truly special. <br />
<br />
We've been here before. So let's just go over a few notes we've hit before.<br />
<br />
Liverpool is good at crossing and gets a lot of goals from it. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/dZLvcLR.png" width="600"><br />
That's 40 goals from crosses – out of 113 in total. Here's <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CAWAyt7EzdROWnNEvs7GOd8cRLVKtBOxWVTyBCK36Ik/edit?usp=sharing" target="blank">a spreadsheet</a> with greater detail.<br />
<br />
Liverpool gets a lot of those crosses and assists from its fullbacks. 30 of them, in fact. Well, 30 if we count two Alexander-Arnold non-assists that should have counted as actual assists. Trent Alexander-Arnold – all of 20 years old – set the record for assists from a defender in the Premier League. Andy Robertson merely tied it. <br />
<br />
Notice how many of the assists came in the second half of the season. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/i67j9Cn.png"><br />
<br />
Liverpool also got a late goal to settle any lingering nerves. Yes, from a cross and full-back assist.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/0sDENat.png" width="600"><br />
<br />
Seven of those 32 goals after the 75th minute were equalizers, with one leveling matters and 11 more with just a one-goal lead, all but making a win certain. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool won at Anfield. Again. Unbeaten in the league this season on their own ground, as they were last season. The only loss at Anfield this season came in the League Cup, a 1-2 defeat thanks to Hazard's late goal with a very much changed Liverpool XI. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/tbUla6G.png" width="420"><br />
<br />
That's a lot of days.<br />
<br />
So, yeah, it's a perfectly fine – and almost perfectly fitting way – to end the league campaign. Except for Liverpool's final standing in the league table. <br />
<br />
The campaign did not end the way we'd hoped, but it ended as well as Liverpool could manage. And better than we'd any right to expect. Liverpool did what Liverpool needed to do, again. We saw Liverpool win, again. And hopefully not for the last time this season.<br />
<br />
Because there are still some important matters to come. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-63655024998533665422019-05-12T12:18:00.003-04:002019-05-12T12:18:40.506-04:00Liverpool 2-0 Wolves<b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/kWQJbWK.png" /><br />
Mané 17' 81'<br />
<br />
That was a wild 20 minutes, huh? Minutes which didn't have an awful lot to do with this match. <br />
<br />
Liverpool ending the season with the title was always unlikely, even going into the final day with a chance. And then Liverpool took the lead here with City at Brighton still level, a near-carbon copy of Wijnaldum's first goal against Barcelona on Tuesday. This time, Alexander-Arnold controls the cross-field pass rather than needing to win it back via press, beats his defender and whips in a low cross, one which is deflected but deflected right to Liverpool's late runner into the box. Sadio Mané this time, his 21st of the league campaign.<br />
<br />
And then Brighton scored, or so Anfield thought, the stadium slowly erupting into delirium while the television commentators tried to confusedly explain. And then Brighton did score. Which, holy hell this might actually happen.<br />
<br />
Reader, it did not. <br />
<br />
City scored right away in riposte. And then again. And then twice more in the second half for good measure. As the Liverpool match went to *whatever*. <br />
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
City have been doing this for months, but there's still the insanity of the run-in. Phil Foden's first and only league goal in a scrappy 1-0 over Tottenham a month ago. City the worse side at United four days later until all of a sudden they weren't. Agüero's winner at Burnley barely two centimeters over the line two weeks ago, then Kompany's hapax legomenon against Leicester last week. And now responding immediately to conceding on the final day with your rivals already ahead. Responding with fury, with fire and blood. <br />
<br />
Manchester City won 14 straight to take the title by a single point. They last dropped points on January 29. I mean, fuck, what are you gonna do? They *sigh* *deep breaths* deserve it. Or bought it. Whichever. Both. <br />
<br />
Anyway. <br />
<br />
So, yeah, once City scored, this very much became a last-day game. And one coming five days after beating Barcelona 4-0, somehow overhauling an 0-3 by force of will. The team could feel it because the crowd knew it and the team could feel it because their legs felt like lead weights. <br />
<br />
So the final 50 minutes were kind of crap. Klopp's hollering, both before and after the interval. At least Liverpool are keeping possession, if sloppy in the final third, until they aren't, with all seven of Wolves' shots between the 36th and 73rd minutes. <br />
<br />
But Liverpool did enough, and Alisson came through when needed, denying two clear-cut chances from Jota, to keep Liverpool in front and a 21st clean sheet, winning the Premier League Golden Gloves in his first season in England. <br />
<br />
And we finally got another Liverpool goal ten minutes from time, a goal which saw Mané go level with Salah (and Aubameyang) for the Golden Boot and Alexander-Arnold set the record for assists from a Premier League defender. You know the routine: Alexander-Arnold cross, Mané header at the back post after the cross just eludes Salah. A second goal, in the final 15 minutes to thankfully put the match to bed. We've seen a few like them before. <br />
<br />
2-0, we're done here, everybody clap and smile and maybe have a sneaky sob. <br />
<br />
So we've got Salah, Mané, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, and Virgil van Dijk – PFA Player of the Year and now Premier League Player of the Year – deservedly earning individual accolades. And we've got Liverpool on 97 points, having lost just one league match all season. A total that's 22 points and two places better than last season's, while still maintaining the remarkable run in Europe. <br />
<br />
No side's ever taken 97 points and not won the league. No side's ever gotten to 90 and not won. The gap between Liverpool in second and Tottenham in third is 25 points, bigger than the gap between seventh-place Wolves and relegated Cardiff. <br />
<br />
It's not fair. But life ain't either. Plus, let's be honest, it's very on brand. <br />
<br />
We'll do more season review stuff in the coming weeks, and we've still got a Champions League Final to look forward to. At the moment, and even believing that's there was damned little chance going into the day, it's hard to encapsulate the contest or the campaign. It's sad now but it was good. Damned good. Incredibly good. Probably the best Liverpool I've seen, regardless of the points tally or how the season ends. <br />
<br />
And that's still present tense. Because it ain't over yet.natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-24222835419149013192019-05-09T08:30:00.002-04:002019-05-09T09:19:16.147-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-3-2-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-0-3-barcelona.html" target="blank"><i>Barcelona (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-5-0-huddersfield.html" target="Blank">Huddersfield (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><i>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><i>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><i>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1370008/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Barcelona" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/KGIWGJT.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/KGIWGJT.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
"Football is a funny old game" doesn't come close to satisfying. Football is fucking hilarious sometimes. <br />
<br />
Liverpool just beat Barcelona 4-0. In a Champions League semi-final. After losing 0-3 a week ago. Without Mohamed Salah or Roberto Firmino. Or Naby Keïta. With Andy Robertson going off through injury at half time, requiring 33-year-old James Milner to play nearly a full half there. Without Sadio Mané taking a single shot.<br />
<br />
Divock Origi – with all of five starts going into this, sent out on loan last season, nearly sent out of loan or sold this January – scored the opening goal and winner. Gini Wijnaldum – with all of three goals going into this game, horrific as a #9 last week, coming off the bench only because Luis Suarez kicked Robertson out of the match – scored the second and third. <br />
<br />
You cannot make this stuff up sometimes. <br />
<br />
True, a lot of what we saw is what we've seen Liverpool do well all season. The first goal's capitalizing on an opposition mistake. The second's pressing and full-back crosses. The third's a cross. The fourth's a set play. <br />
<br />
That's what Liverpool does. That's what Liverpool wanted to do on Tuesday, what Liverpool needed to do on Tuesday. That's how Liverpool have won matches since August. <br />
<br />
But as much as 0-3 in the last leg lied, 4-0 in this does. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Barcelona <br />
<br />
Both legs were the same story -- not complete dominance like the score suggested, but the home team was better and all the finishing went the same direction. Overall basically even, but that's not what made it a classic. <a href="https://t.co/nDdg9BsPxi">pic.twitter.com/nDdg9BsPxi</a></p>— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1125870866716340225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Between 1-0 and 2-0, Barcelona had the better chances. Matip's last millisecond tackle on Messi in the 16th minute, denying a near-certain goal. Alisson saving Jordi Alba's clear-cut chance just before the interval and then Suarez's clear-cut chance in the 51st minute. The Brazilian stopped five Barcelona shots on-target; he made just two saves in the last leg. <br />
<br />
That said, Barcelona took just eight shots on Tuesday. Lionel Messi took five of them, and created three chances for the others. Being a one-man team is incredibly difficult, even when you're the best player ever. There's precedent for Barcelona's collapse – you could see Roma on every Barca player's face after Wijnaldum's first goal – and it probably doesn't help that seven of Barcelona's starting XI is 30 or older – Messi, Suarez, Pique, Rakitic, Alba, Busquets, and Vidal. Incidentally, both of Liverpool's first two goals started from mistakes from one of those 30-year-olds: Jordi Alba, with a misplayed header to release Mané for the first, pressed out of possession by Alexander-Arnold for the second.<br />
<br />
Take your damn chances and you'll probably win the damn game. Force the opposition into more mistakes than you make and you'll probably win the damn game. <br />
<br />
Sometimes football's simple. And sometimes man plans and Liverpool laughs.<br />
<br />
There's this season's Liverpool. The fucking mentality giants. The side with 30 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, the most prolific 15-minute period for this side this season. Late winners against PSG, United, Palace, Fulham, Tottenham, Southampton, Newcastle, and now Barcelona – at least kinda sorta, if not technically. The side who's won eight straight in the league to keep pace with a City side that's won 12. The side who'll finish with the most league points in Liverpool history. <br />
<br />
And there's Liverpool in Europe. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liverpool are the only team to have beaten both Barcelona and Real Madrid by four goals in the 21st century.</p>— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/1126129984576397312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Olympiakos. Istanbul. Dortmund. Barcelona. We can go back farther – it is "five times," after all – but let's stick with recent memory.<br />
<br />
June 1st will see Liverpool's third European final in Jürgen Klopp's fourth season. <br />
<br />
Sometimes sport is pain. As we're all well aware. But, sometimes, we are inevitable.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/BI76xKP.jpg" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/BI76xKP.jpg" width="640"></a>natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-12105978348013496052019-05-06T09:18:00.003-04:002019-05-06T09:18:43.724-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 3-2 Newcastle<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/05/visualized-liverpool-0-3-barcelona.html" target="blank"><I>Barcelona (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-5-0-huddersfield.html" target="Blank">Huddersfield (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1285052/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Newcastle-United-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/08YLeRv.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/08YLeRv.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
I feel like I have written a lot of this before. <br />
<br />
Once again, we've got full-back assists, two from Alexander-Arnold to go level with Andy Robertson: 11 in the Premier League, 13 in all competitions. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2 - Liverpool are the first team in Premier League history to have at least two defenders provide 10+ assists each in a single campaign (Trent Alexander-Arnold 11 & Andy Robertson 11). Outlets. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEWLIV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEWLIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/2NaayZJAen">pic.twitter.com/2NaayZJAen</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1124753881374822401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Incidentally, ten of Alexander-Arnold's 13 assists have come in the last 14 matches, since his three against Watford at the end of February. <br />
<br />
Once again, we've got goals from crosses: both assists from Alexander-Arnold as well as Shaqiri's free kick delivery for Origi's late winner. <br />
<br />
We've got set play goals: Van Dijk's opener from a corner, the aforementioned winner from a free kick. Even Liverpool's second could have been classified as one, with just two passes following a throw-in. Those were Liverpool's 22nd and 23rd set play goals of the season; <br />
<br />
And we've got late goals. Liverpool winning a match in the last 15 minutes. As against PSG, Everton, United, Palace, Fulham, Tottenham, and Southampton. Four of those have come in the last month and a half. <br />
<br />
Once again, we've got Liverpool doing a lot of what Liverpool intended to do, and it's a reasonable amount of good, and it's enough to win. It's Liverpool's eighth league win in a row, to return to the top of the league at least until City host Leicester in a few hours. <br />
<br />
But. There was a fair amount of NOT GOOD as well. Almost too much. Thankfully, only almost. <br />
<br />
Liverpool conceded twice in a league match, for just the fourth time this season. 1-2 City. 4-3 Palace, 4-2 Burnley, and now this. Which, hey, just four times! But also, it's Newcastle, and three of the four have happened in the second half of the season, with two in the last two months. Against Burnley (15th place) and Newcastle (14th). Not ideal.<br />
<br />
Liverpool were out-shot for first time in the league since the 1-1 West Ham draw in early February. This was just the fourth time in 37 league matches that's happened this season, along with this, the 1-2 loss at City, and the 1-0 win over Huddersfield (yeah, your guess is as good as mine).<br />
<br />
Divock Origi's goal – in the 86th minute – was Liverpool's only shot after Rondon's equalizer. 40 minutes of action. A tie game, a game you need to win. One shot, from a set play. That's not usually a recipe for winning a match you've given up two equalizers in. <br />
<br />
And said winner came from a free kick that Liverpool were fortunate to win, with Fabinho falling under little to no contact, even if he was arguably fouled a few steps before hurling himself to the carpet. And Origi's header went in off Lascelles, on-target but unlikely to beat Dubravaka without the redirection. <br />
<br />
That free kick and winner weren't the only times that Liverpool were fortunate. Liverpool were incredibly lucky that Atsu scored in the 20th minute, preventing Alexander-Arnold's dismissal when he handled the earlier shot on the goal line. And that Perez hit the woodwork less than two minutes before Salah scored. <br />
<br />
It wasn't the first time Liverpool have been lucky this season. It wasn't the first time that Liverpool have won ugly.<br />
<br />
I do not care. By any means necessary.<br />
<br />
Liverpool had not won a Premier League away game following a European away game under Jürgen Klopp since this most recent run. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/8fstnyw.png" width="500"><br />
<br />
Two losses – bad losses – following Europa League away matches in 2015-16, a late collapse and a thorough B-Team stomping. A draw and two losses following Champions League away matches last season. Three consecutive away league wins following three Champions League away matches this season, over these last two months of Liverpool madness. <br />
<br />
It is May 6. There is one game left in Liverpool's league campaign, having already achieved the club's record points total. Liverpool were without Firmino, without Keïta, Salah going off through concussion. Liverpool's starting XI featured seven players who've already got more than 3000 minutes under their belts this season, with Henderson and Fabinho not far behind. I do not care that Liverpool did not dominate. I do not care that Liverpool needed to win ugly. All that matters is that Liverpool won. Again. <br />
<br />
Back over to you, City. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-53510856121286871792019-05-03T09:44:00.000-04:002019-05-03T09:44:39.177-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 0-3 Barcelona <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-5-0-huddersfield.html" target="Blank">Huddersfield (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1370007/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-Barcelona-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/bSjWizF.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/bSjWizF.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
I mean, it ain't rocket science. <br />
<br />
Liverpool got out-ruthlessed by a team that does what Liverpool does well, and often does it even better. And also has the greatest player of all time. <br />
<br />
Which sucks. <br />
<br />
The game plan wasn't bad. The game plan was surprisingly and satisfyingly bold.<br />
<br />
Do you. You're the first or second-best team in the first or second-best league in the world. You've lost just one domestic match all season. You're fighting for the title in your league against one of the most expensively assembled sides ever. You're good at the football. Do you. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool tried.<br />
<br />
Liverpool had Barcelona on the ropes at the Camp Nou for surprisingly long stretches, both in the first and second halves. You show up at Barcelona and look to take the game to them. You press, you possess. You control distinct periods of the match, especially the first 20 minutes of the first half and first 15 minutes of the second half. <br />
<br />
But after Liverpool initially impress, Barcelona wins the ball in midfield, cross-field switch, cross-field switch, full-back cross, full-back assist, attacker goal from close range. <br />
<br />
But Barcelona counter-attacks late in the match, 15 minutes remaining, hanging onto a one-goal lead, and gets an incredibly fortunate bounce of the ball. Not just once, but twice. First, Messi's through ball to Sergi Roberto not tackled by van Dijk, the pass squirming towards Luis Suarez. Then, Suarez' shot off the woodwork, falling directly to Messi. <br />
<br />
But Barcelona adds gloss with a set play. Albeit a direct free kick, which Liverpool have scored one of this season and Lionel Messi's scored eight, but still. Set play goal with a lead. <br />
<br />
All of this feels vaguely and unsettlingly familiar.<br />
<br />
Barcelona put five of their 12 shots on-target, compared to four of 15 from Liverpool. Barcelona scored two of three clear-cut chances, with the other off the crossbar to set up their third goal. Liverpool failed to score any of their three: Mané off-target when Robertson's low cross bobbles in front of him not long after Suarez' goal, Milner shooting straight at Ter Stegen not long after halftime, and Salah off the post in the 84th minute, when an away goal would have at least given Liverpool hope. <br />
<br />
The smallest margins are punished at this level vastly more than at lower. This is the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Liverpool are up against a side that's won this competition three times in the previous ten seasons and their league in eight of those ten. They have been here before, repeatedly. Liverpool are just beginning to reestablish themselves as regulars. <br />
<br />
And also, shit happens. Especially when Lionel Messi is involved. <br />
<br />
So, yeah, not great, and not entirely Liverpool's fault. Still, Klopp's two big line-up decisions did not work as hoped. <br />
<br />
Bobby Firmino is as close to irreplaceable in this side as anyone. Yes, Van Dijk, Alisson, Salah, but his work rate as the spearpoint of the press, the ability to drop deep to link up play but also create chances in the final third and repeadtedly demonstrate those necessary predatory instincts. <br />
<br />
Wijnaldum – and it's not entirely his fault – did few of those things. Here's Gini's 79 minutes of work:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/LHw52G8.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/LHw52G8.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
No shots. No dribbles. No tackles. One key pass, an in-box layoff to Milner just after half time. <br />
<br />
More specifically, here's Gini's 79 minutes of passing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/eORpDNm.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/eORpDNm.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
There are a reasonable amount of passes received both in the box and in the zone just outside. There are few passes played and no shots taken from said positions. Where did the ball go? <br />
<br />
I am not entirely sure why Wijnaldum was preferred to Origi or Sturridge. Pressing? Hold-up and link play in the #9/#10 role? Would either have been more influential? Maybe not. But they've at least played the position before. They're at least attackers. Liverpool rarely thrives with just two attackers; even in matches won without one of the front three – which thankfully doesn't happen often – Liverpool's had that other in Origi, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Keïta, or even Lallana. <br />
<br />
So who becomes the third shot-taker? James Milner. Which – and we all love Hamez Thrillner – is welp. <br />
<br />
This was the one glaring example of Liverpool not doing Liverpool. <br />
<br />
And while Joe Gomez is a better defender than Trent Alexander-Arnold, he also hadn't started a match in five months. It's Gomez who's caught two against one after Vidal's cross-field switch, trying to close down both Coutinho and Alba because Henderson's unable to get back in time, neither able to stop Alba's cross into Luis Suarez for the opener. <br />
<br />
Gomez only created one chance: a cross for Mané in the 67th minute, headed off-target. Robertson, with 13 assists this season and an average of 1.3 key passes per 90 minutes, failed to create any. That has not happened often this season. Sure, Liverpool had chances to score – good chances, clear-cut chances, even if not as many as we'd like – but Liverpool's full-backs are usually far more involved in creating said chances. And often to Liverpool's benefit. <br />
<br />
But it's not Klopp's fault that Keïta went off through injury in the 24th minute. Henderson helped in certain regard, especially in the right half-space; it was his cross for Mané's first-half clear-cut chance, and he increasingly combined well with Gomez until Semedo came on around the hour mark. But he does not break lines like Keïta, press like Keïta, tackle like Keïta, or get in the box like Keïta. <br />
<br />
It's not Klopp's fault that Liverpool put so few shots on-target or failed to convert one of three clear-cut chances, which is an awful lot against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. <br />
<br />
And it's not Klopp or Liverpool's fault that Lionel Messi is Lionel Messi, who's now scored 600 goals in 683 games for Barcelona. Which, holy crap. <br />
<br />
But this tie ain't over. Roma came back from a three-goal deficit against Barca in the quarterfinals last season, albeit with an away goal going in. Liverpool have won 11 matches this season by a three-goal margin or more. Of course, Barcelona haven't lost by three yet this season, and have conceded three or more just twice: 3-4 Betis and 4-4 Villarreal, with both fixtures featuring a red card. <br />
<br />
It ain't gonna be easy. And, honestly, it probably ain't gonna happen. But that doesn't mean it can't. And, often, that's all this Liverpool team needs. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-17297106127944554552019-04-29T10:03:00.000-04:002019-04-29T10:03:03.066-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 5-0 Huddersfield<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-cardiff.html" target="blank">Cardiff (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1285014/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Huddersfield" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/001UJcx.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/001UJcx.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
That's what Liverpool can do against a deep but not particularly organized defense. <br />
<br />
We complain about deep defenses all the time. Sometimes Liverpool finds a breakthrough because of the magic front three. As against Chelsea or, to a lesser extent, Fulham in the last month. Sometimes it's set plays, as at Cardiff last week. Sometimes it's luck, as with Origi against Everton.<br />
<br />
And sometimes that deep defense just isn't good enough. <br />
<br />
It's been awhile since we've seen those long poke, prod, and pass sequences leading to goals. We got three of them on Friday. Liverpool's second goal saw 22 passes over more than a minute, the third 12 passes, the fifth 20 passes. Liverpool pushed and pulled Huddersfield around before delivering a stiletto between shoulder blades time and time again. <br />
<br />
It wasn't blitzkrieg. It wasn't set plays. It was jab, jab, jab, jab, uppercut. It's nice to be reminded that Liverpool can still do so when the opportunity presents.<br />
<br />
Look at how damned open Liverpool players were for the final ball. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/h75ujew.png" width="600"><br />
<br />
Mané probably shouldn't have that much space between center-backs. And maybe get closer to Andy Robertson.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/jQzfLLN.png" width="600"><br />
<br />
Yep, he's between defenders caught on the back foot again. And maybe get closer to Jordan Henderson.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/RrvWz4n.png" width="600"><br />
<br />
At least Durm's watching Salah, about to make a run behind in the top left corner, but maybe somebody tell Kongolo that he might need to help here. <br />
<br />
Of course, an early goal helps. The last time Liverpool scored in the first minute of a match was in the 5-1 win over Arsenal back in 2013-14, Skrtel hammering in Gerrard's free kick after 50 seconds – another five-goal romp. Scoring after 15 seconds is <a href="https://twitter.com/LFChistory/status/1121856904119103493" target="blank">the quickest that Liverpool have struck in a match since 1984</a>. It's probably not the best way for the worst side in the division to begin a match at Anfield.<br />
<br />
And none of this is to take away from Liverpool's overall quality. Both in general play – the complete control of proceedings, the comfort at the back, – and in all five goals, both in chance creation and conversion. And the creation came from more of the same notes we've hit in recent weeks. <br />
<br />
Those crosses though; Liverpool have scored 32 goals from crosses by my count so far this season. Assists from fullbacks; 66 of Liverpool's 104 goals in all competitions have been assisted, and Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are responsible of 24 of those 66. 36%, more than a third. Woof. And assists from Jordan Henderson, who's now got four plus a goal in his last 400 minutes. And an opening goal from pressing, thanks to an opponent who actually allowed Liverpool to press in the final third early on. <br />
<br />
It was exactly what Liverpool can do, and what Liverpool wanted to do, from the absolute start to finish. Complete control, thankfully reflected in the score line. Assists from Liverpool's top creators, goals from Liverpool's top scorers. Another clean sheet for van Dijk – the newly minted PFA Player of the Year – Alisson, et al, and Lovren coming back into the side without issue. Continued improvement from Naby Keïta – another goal, a better understanding of Liverpool's pressing timing and rhythm, and Liverpool's top tackler with Fabinho rested – and a well-rounded midfield with Keïta both destroying and running from further forward, Henderson in a more advanced role, Wijnaldum more than capable as the #6, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning after a year out. <br />
<br />
It was as much as we could have hoped for, and almost as good as Liverpool can be, at this point of the season. With two league games left to play and a Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Unfortunately, it may not be enough. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-6320156981686807392019-04-22T14:55:00.002-04:002019-04-22T14:55:59.253-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Cardiff<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-4-1-porto.html" target="blank"><I>Porto (A)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html" target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284962/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Cardiff-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/hOF6U07.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/hOF6U07.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
I enjoy this team a lot. For the most part, they're all surprisingly likable. They're almost all quite good at the football. <br />
<br />
And, somehow – in the meat of the season, with the pressure ratcheted up to 11, in a two-team race with one of the best sides this league's ever had – they just keep winning. <br />
<br />
In a lot of ways, we've seen this match before. Quite a bit lately. The stutters and the suffering. The grinding. The 90 minutes of torture. <br />
<br />
To be fair, the first half was better than 0-0 suggested. Two clear-cut chances untaken: Firmino ballooning when put through and Salah denied by Etheridge. A couple other reasonable chances through Mané and Firmino. But it's close and it's in the balance and we're on edge, because that's where we are in the season and the standings. <br />
<br />
So we get the stutters and the suffering and the grind and a fairly unremarkable first half, but Liverpool finally opens the scoring not long into the second.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Klopp on Gini goal: The boys decided this at half time in the dressing room, they saw the space on set pieces. I love that.</p>— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) <a href="https://twitter.com/thisisanfield/status/1120012569950007296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
I love it too. This is not only a hard-working, never-say-die side. It's not only a very, very talented side. It is a surprisingly clever side, one that's increasingly capable of reacting in-game, whether through the players or manager. <br />
<br />
To be fair, we have seen quite a few set play goals so far this season. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/x3F2qxp.png"><br />
<br />
There are a handful of goals against Liverpool's peers. The opener at Tottenham back in September, the winner at Bayern, the winner over Tottenham. But the vast majority have come against the bus-parkers. The dross. <br />
<br />
West Ham, Leicester, Southampton, Fulham (both matches), Watford (both matches), Burnley, Wolves, Newcastle, Bournemouth, and now Cardiff. Sides currently sitting 11th, 9th, 16th, 19th, 8th, 15th, 10th, 13th, 14th, and 18th. And you can pick whichever category you'd like to put Everton in. <br />
<br />
If we're being charitable to Everton, that's four of six opening goals against the dross. And five of the eight game-winners. Aside from running up the score against West Ham, Newcastle, and Watford, they've all been meaningful goals – not that many goals aren't. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/vB7ibOJ.png"><br />
<br />
I'm sure it's just coincidence that the two seasons in the last ten years where Liverpool led the league in set plays goals were 2013-14 and 2018-19. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool needed Sunday's set play goal. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Cardiff was only the second league match Liverpool have won since Salah signed where none of the first choice front three got on the score sheet. If the first has slipped your mind, I’ve got two words to remind you: Divock Origi." <br><br>My <a href="https://twitter.com/LivEchoLFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LivEchoLFC</a> column: <a href="https://t.co/ZfAEONUkKD">https://t.co/ZfAEONUkKD</a></p>— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) <a href="https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed/status/1120357443765141504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
I know that stat's right and I'm still tempted to go look line-by-line over the last two seasons. Liverpool's front three do not let the side down often, but it is essential that Liverpool get goals from other sources the few times that they do. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch. As far as Liverpool matches go, only the reverse fixture saw less opposition possession than Sunday's, and no side's attempted or competed fewer passes against Liverpool this season. But Cardiff at least posed a little bit of a threat. Mendez-Laing helped to pin Alexander-Arnold back early in the first half. The average position diagram suggests that Cardiff targeted Matip and Alexander-Arnold on that flank, as does <A href="https://i.imgur.com/UDDMPnP.png" target="blank">Cardiff's attacking direction</a>. But Matip and van Dijk <a href="https://i.imgur.com/UQVfVjC.png" target="Blank">cleared nearly everything asked</a>, with both heavily involved in Liverpool's attacking build-up. <br />
<br />
More notable was Sean Morrison's clear-cut chance in the 64th minute, just seven after Liverpool scored. But Alisson got the faintest of touches on the cross in, and the ball hit Morrison on the back rather than the head and popped into the air rather than the back of Liverpool's net. As per usual, a bit of luck and a bit of skill – Alisson also did well to save Niasse's corner header just before halftime – and the score stayed at 1-0, and we survive another day. <br />
<br />
Morrison's clear-cut chance was Cardiff's last shot of the afternoon, a warning to push Liverpool back into gear, and a reminder that what set plays giveth, set plays can taketh away. Liverpool shut it down, Morrison did a stupid in truing to wrestle Salah, Milner notched the penalty, and we're done here.<br />
<br />
And we'll do it all over again in a week. More than likely in a similar manner. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-25186587986352493842019-04-19T10:36:00.000-04:002019-04-19T10:37:30.235-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 4-1 Porto <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-chelsea.html" target="blank">Chelsea (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><i>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><i>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1368028/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-FC-Porto-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/5kNhwlK.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/5kNhwlK.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Well, we certainly didn't expect that to end 4-1 after the first half. <br />
<br />
Porto announced their intention within 40 seconds, Corona firing off a first effort after cutting from the right, curling a wide box shot over. They'd take 14 shots in the opening half hour, which ties the record for the most shots that Liverpool have allowed in a match this season. Which happened at Napoli back in early October, arguably Liverpool's worst performance of the season.<br />
<br />
14 shots is a lot of shots. All Porto needed was one goal to turn this match, and it seemed a matter of time before coming. <br />
<br />
Except.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not much to like about that performance but the scoreline is excellent.<br />
Porto 15 shots to 4 and 57% possession but the XG map is important <a href="https://t.co/r4QnBucLZA">pic.twitter.com/r4QnBucLZA</a></p>— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanKennett/status/1118603916906831878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
There are a lot of shots there. There are also a lot of shots that probably aren't going in there. Especially from Moussa Marega, who took ten shots over two legs, putting six on target, but with an xG of just 0.09 per shot. And that's including a clear-cut chance from the first leg, saved by Alisson after half an hour. He'd scored six in seven Champions League games prior to this, in every match except the first group tie at Schalke. <br />
<br />
It was very much a "bend but don't break" display, something that Liverpool have been reasonably competent at, if more so earlier in the season. <br />
<br />
And that Expected Goals map also has one big red dot at the other end of the pitch. Because, once again, Sadio Mané's opening the scoring. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make that 8 out of Liverpool’s last 10 opening goals for Mané! <a href="https://t.co/b12tS3vMtJ">https://t.co/b12tS3vMtJ</a></p>— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) <a href="https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed/status/1118597989138825218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First goalscorer in 3 of Liverpool’s past 4 away games:<br />
At Bayern: Mane 26th min<br />
At Fulham: Mane 26th min<br />
At Porto: Mane 26th min</p>— Bill Edgar (@BillEdgarTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillEdgarTimes/status/1118610411371290625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Also, thank you VAR. I feel bad for folks inside the stadium who've gotta unknowingly sit through decisions but otherwise, it's great and usually works. And it's probably yet another example of just a little swing of luck going Liverpool's way. <br />
<br />
But more importantly. We learned something we already knew. Porto learned something Porto already knew. <br />
<br />
This side wants to counter-attack. This side doesn't get many opportunities to counter attack. This side can be very good on the counter-attack. <br />
<br />
The first goal's against the run of play, but it's not truly a counter, let alone a fast break. It's from one end of the pitch to other, starting from van Dijk's wonderful tackle, but Porto have chances to get back and chances to clear: Otavio's header on Wijnaldum's cross-field directly to Robertson rather than away, two Salah shots blocked, albeit by Liverpool's players, with Porto players in position in their own box. <br />
<br />
They all count the same, though. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool had a fair few true counter-attacks in the second half. Firmino replaced Origi and Liverpool did the "we're up away from home" thing. Lots of Porto possession, few Porto shots. There were 13 Porto shots in the 25 minutes before Liverpool's opener. There were just four afterwards. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Liverpool scored from two fast breaks and a set play. And they should have had another on the break, Mané rounding Casillas but firing over off-balance in the 72nd minute. Three second half goals to pull away from an opponent trying like hell to get themselves back in the game. Up and down the pitch. Away from home in the Champions League.<br />
<br />
It's "Old Liverpool" back again. Because, once again, Liverpool have more chances to be old Liverpool against European opponents rather than domestic. As Bayern Munich learned in the previous leg. <br />
<br />
So, as happened last season, we got a five-goal aggregate win over the Portuguese champions, featuring a romp on their own ground. We get Mané, Salah, and Firmino all scoring, for only the fourth time this season after doing it 11 last season. <br />
<br />
We get more Liverpool clear-cut chances than shots from outside the box. They're not super prolific in shots, but the shots are good shots, high value shots, because they're coming in transition, from pressing and from counters. <br />
<br />
We get Jordan Henderson, somehow still on the most productive streak of his life, tallying yet another assist off the bench – his third in four games to go along with the goal scored at Southampton – from yet another cross. He already registered four key passes, by far the most from a Liverpool player, in only 20 minutes of action. <br />
<br />
We get van Dijk mopping up at the back; I'm still in awe of the tackle on Marega prior to starting the move for Liverpool's opener, but it's not as if that's the only moment. We get seven saves from Alisson, none especially difficult but still the most in a single match this season. <br />
<br />
Despite a few tetchy moments – encouragingly few – in the end, we get this.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">xG map for Porto - Liverpool. <br />
<br />
what kind of person watched this <a href="https://t.co/VbWsnIT4V0">pic.twitter.com/VbWsnIT4V0</a></p>— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1118621482626764800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
And this. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Porto<br />
<br />
the easy draw is a nice thing to get <a href="https://t.co/XNrt7QKe4T">pic.twitter.com/XNrt7QKe4T</a></p>— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1118622293247320065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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"Easy draw" be damned. Once again, we get Liverpool doing what they need to do – with an added dash of élan thanks to style of play and game state – for the eighth consecutive win now that we're reached the absolute meat of the season. And we get Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final in consecutive seasons, for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-42360541610455585332019-04-16T15:38:00.002-04:002019-04-16T15:38:04.481-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-0-porto.html" target="Blank"><I>Porto (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
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Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284934/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Chelsea" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/M9Lm8LB.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/M9Lm8LB.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Once again, Liverpool just are. <br />
<br />
They just grind. They just get there, whether through a late goal or five-minute flurry or moment of magic. They drag themselves, sometimes kicking and screaming, over the finish line. For the seventh successive win in all competitions, and at this point of this season.<br />
<br />
At this point, they are what they are. And what they are is relentless. <br />
<br />
Once again, the first half isn't great.<br />
<br />
Liverpool take just four shots. Salah's first, on target, was a very good chance, but the rest are more marginal. Once again, a deep, determined back four/six/eight, is stifling Liverpool. And we're getting frustrated.<br />
<br />
And not only is Chelsea's defense deep, determined, and in position, they're upsetting Liverpool's flow with an intermittent press, using the front three and maybe a midfielder to hassle the initial build-up before dropping once Liverpool get around the halfway line. Chelsea made a surprisingly high amount of tackles and interceptions in the middle third of the pitch for a side facing Liverpool. <br />
<br />
It makes for tough watching, especially as Liverpool, Anfield, and every single one of us knows a win's necessary to keep pace. And every single one of us remembers the last time Liverpool were in this position against Chelsea late in a title-chasing season. <br />
<br />
But Liverpool keep going and, encouraged rather than dismayed, Liverpool get two quick-fire goals early in the second half – a passing move the likes of which we've seen all season and an absolute marvel from Mohamed Salah. <br />
<br />
Liverpool get that bit of luck, with Hazard's two missed chances, but Liverpool also make their own luck, as has happened almost all season. Liverpool see out the match with comfortable possession after those frightening five minutes, with cool heads and necessary substitutions ensuring said comfort.<br />
<br />
It's not quite as frantic as Southampton or Tottenham, and not quite as secure as against Porto, but not wholly out of character from what we've seen over the last few months. For better far more than for worse. <br />
<br />
There has been one notable change over the last three matches though. Jordan Henderson's emergence (reemergence?) as an attacking midfielder. The third goal off the bench against Southampton, his first goal of the season. Assists for the game-winning goal against Southampton and Chelsea. The most Liverpool chances created against Porto, including a hockey assist on the crucial second goal, where he also won the ball back in the midfield to start the move. <br />
<br />
His assist on Sunday – like his goal against Southampton – was exactly what I've wanted to see more of from Liverpool's midfielders, even when we're getting sufficient creation from the front three and full-backs. Those runs into the box though. This time, backing up Salah and Firmino's entry into the penalty area, following up when Emerson intercepted then standing up a cross to the box post, knowing exactly where to find Sadio Mané. That goal against Southampton came as the extra attacker on the break, charging after Matip's long pass downfield, in the right place for Firmino's centered pass.<br />
<br />
They've been important moments, necessary moments.<br />
<br />
There is a whole mountain of salt taken with this because of sample size but Henderson's performances as a more advanced midfielder have been more than encouraging. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Q1dHCKU.png"><br />
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Running hot in front of goal for a couple of games, yay! Which, maybe, to be fair, but also a pile of key passes and interceptions per 90 minutes compared to others who've played in that position. And, unsurprisingly, compared to what he's done in a deeper role. <br />
<br />
There are a couple of other caveats worth mentioning besides sample size and positional foibles. Henderson started in this role against Everton and United a couple of months ago and *gulps, tugs collar*, taking just one shot and failing to create a chance in the two matches, with Liverpool drawing both 0-0. That dribble rate is bad, whether as an attacking midfielder or defensive shield. <br />
<br />
As for the others he's compared to. Four of Milner's six goals were from the penalty spot and three of Milner's six assists have been from set plays, so that's marginally inflated. Plus Milner's also played a handful of games at full-back, so warnings about long passes, total passes, and defensive actions. We're often told that a lot of what Wijnaldum's asked to do doesn't show up in stats like these, except maybe his pass accuracy and higher dribble rate than Milner or Henderson. And Keïta's sometimes struggles this season are more than explainable with change in style and league, as well as intermittent injury. Plus, he's also come good over the last few games. <br />
<br />
Whether it's a blip or course correction, it has been encouraging, and it has been good timing from Liverpool's captain. <br />
<br />
But he has not been the only one. Not on Sunday, not for the last three games or the last month.<br />
<br />
Because, once again, Liverpool are what Liverpool are. And it's an everyone thing. <br />
<br />
The center-backs and keeper organized and defend. The full-backs defend and create. The midfield possesses and passes and presses, and Fabinho destroys while Keïta and Henderson increasingly add to the attack. And the front three does front three things.<br />
<br />
It's less "Mohamed Salah will save us" than at almost any point last season. It's less "Alisson and van Dijk will cancel out any possible mistakes" than earlier in this season. It is very much a team effort, which makes it that much more meaningful. <br />
<br />
Sometimes it's great and good fun, although rarely comfortable. Sometimes we get less than we'd like. Sometimes much less, to our chagrin and detriment. But, at least for the last month and more, we've gotten enough. No matter how. Every single time. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-2260815223090510752019-04-14T14:00:00.002-04:002019-04-14T14:00:58.632-04:00Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea <b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/1XFKvsf.png" /><br />
Mane 51'<br />
Salah 53'<br />
<br />
That was a magnificent performance. <br />
<br />
2-0, with both goals scored in the second half and in quick succession, may not necessarily suggest so. But Liverpool were incredibly impressively good throughout, and I'm still sat here in awe of it. <br />
<br />
Okay, so it's 0-0 for the entire first half. Which, not great. In keeping with some recent frustration. But. <br />
<br />
Liverpool are getting chances. Salah's first-time shot after a lovely Keïta pass and Mané cross too close to Kepa. Firmino poking a wicked free kick at Kepa, but also inches offside. Crosses just eluding Liverpool attackers, Chelsea defenders sticking out a leg just in time as attackers charge at goal. There's goals in this here game. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Liverpool are coping reasonably well with Chelsea's sporadic press, as the front three and more attacking midfielders challenge when the ball's in Liverpool's defensive third before retreating into that frustratingly deep, frustratingly organized shape. No giveaways, no stupid. Which is always encouraging. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool are doing enough to stop potentially dangerous Chelsea counters, whether it's Fabinho tackles or van Dijk and Matip in the air or Alisson beating away crosses. Liverpool know they need to win and proceed accordingly with both structure and tempo, but continue to ensure there's far fewer chances for stomach punches. As they've done for the vast majority of the season.<br />
<br />
So it's 0-0 when we restart after that first half, and while it's been mostly encouraging, we're mostly full of terror because we're always full of terror. I promise, it was not bad. We might be afraid, because we've been conditioned to be afraid, but Liverpool feel like they're gonna keep doing Liverpool. <br />
<br />
And for two glorious minutes, we get a reminder of this side in full flow. We get a reminder of Liverpool at their sword-wielding best. The side that takes names and stomps souls. <br />
<br />
We get an opener from Sadio Mané, featuring Liverpool doing everything good that Liverpool does in attack. Constant probing possession. Spread wide to Salah, run at the box. Interplay between Salah, Firmino, and Henderson, the latter refusing to give up on the bounce of the ball. A cross from the byline, a header at the back post. Like so many we've seen come before.<br />
<br />
And we almost immediately get a second from Mohamed Salah. Which, good lord. I know Mo Salah hasn't played all that well lately, constantly an inch or a millimeter off of what'd go perfectly last season. I also know that only Mo Salah scores that goal in this side. Van Dijk, cross-field and over the top. Salah, one on one with Emerson, who still retreats despite Salah's struggles. He gets onto that left foot. And he absolutely spanks a shot from absolutely nowhere past Arrizabalaga. <br />
<br />
Goals from sustained build-up and crosses, and goals from Mohamed Salah doing literally unbelievable things. Sounds about right. <br />
<br />
Of course, then we're jolted back to reality. Five minutes of utter terror. Two moments that should have been Chelsea goals: Hazard twice breaking Liverpool's usually reliable offside line, hitting the post with the first and denied by Alisson on the second. Maybe there's complacency involved, but there's also a Chelsea substitution: Higuain replacing Hudson-Odoi, shifting Hazard ostensibly back to the left. Where he probably should have played from the off.<br />
<br />
There has been a lot of good done by Liverpool this season. But there has been a lot of luck as well. And this might well be a different match – it's at least a different Anfield – if Hazard pulls one back. Yes, yes, different season, but I can't help remembering Arsenal last season. 1-0, then 2-0. But then 2-1 and 2-2 and 2-3 and come the hell on. <br />
<br />
But this time, van Dijk hollers and Keïta gets his foot on the ball. Liverpool basically stop everything, dominating possession for the next few minutes. Liverpool replace Keïta and Henderson with fresh legs in Milner and Wijnaldum. And Liverpool completely controls the final 30 minutes. You can't call it coasting, because Liverpool never stop running, never stop pressing, and have a few more sights at goal, but for the most part, it's game over and a slow slow death for another opponent. As we got on Tuesday. No muss, no fuss, three points, back on top.<br />
<br />
So, yeah. It's basically everything you want to see. Liverpool, determined and resilient in attack despite early frustration, eventually getting the needed minutes of magic. Liverpool, determined and resilient in defense, in control for the vast majority but also doing enough to hang on during the frightful five.<br />
<br />
And that's just in isolation. You cannot forget the context. City have cantered to another win just prior, strolling 3-1 at Palace, to leapfrog Liverpool in the table. And Liverpool are up against Chelsea – not only a decent side who can counter-act a lot of what Liverpool want to do, not only the toughest opponent left to face in this league campaign, but you know and I know and they know that this is also a fixture with far too much PTSD attached. This time of year. This spot in the standings. And this opposition.<br />
<br />
And Liverpool did exactly what they needed to. Again. A seventh win in a row in all competitions, a fifth in the league, unbeaten since January 7.<br />
<br />
This team just will not stop. And you cannot help but love them for it, no matter what may come.natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-23053016401497626122019-04-11T09:18:00.001-04:002019-04-11T09:18:29.014-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Porto<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-3-1-southampton.html" target="Blank">Southampton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1368027/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-FC-Porto" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/cbBlXcL.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/cbBlXcL.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
I love European football. <br />
<br />
Because, unlike the vast majority of the Premier League, European sides do not set up to specifically deny Liverpool opportunities to press.<br />
<br />
And then matches like this happen. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Ty63EhI.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/Ty63EhI.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/g8OVW2t.png" width="640"><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For a team who had 64% possession, them’s some big Reds numbers. <a href="https://t.co/8Rlv1KIzLg">pic.twitter.com/8Rlv1KIzLg</a></p>— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) <a href="https://twitter.com/BassTunedToRed/status/1115734433217351685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
As Beasley says, that's an egregious amount of tackles and ball recoveries for a side that had that much possession. 64% possession is about what Liverpool averaged against Southampton (67%), Fulham (63%), and Everton (59%) over the last month or so.<br />
<br />
Those matches did not look like this one, even if the results were mostly similar (*glares at Merseyside Derby*). <br />
<br />
More importantly, it's probably not coincidence that both of Liverpool's goals came from winning the ball back in midfield. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/6BDDG2D.png" width="640"><br />
<br />
Fabinho presses the Porto attack, and while Danilo tries to tackle him, Milner – even though he's at left-back, is there to pick up the pieces, immediately looking long for Mané and going, allowing Liverpool to run at Porto before Porto can regroup. <br />
<br />
Mané does the right thing up against two defenders, Firmino somehow finds space in the box for the layoff, and Keïta's shot is at least going to be on-target before the deflection, but this very much starts in midfield and in transition.<br />
<br />
Similar goes for Liverpool's second, as Mané's tackled in the final third but Henderson's forward to back him up, spreading play to Keïta, who finds Firmino once again in a pocket of space, returned to Henderson who's now joined the attack. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/JdeZXwI.png" width="640"><br />
<br />
So, we can highlight individual performances. Firmino was heavily involved in both goals, and not for the first time over the last month, having scored four and assisted three in his last six games. <br />
<br />
Porto's system – with three deeper center-backs, one a right-back by trade – and Oliver Torres rather than Hector Herrera – probably gave Firmino a bit too much space to operate. <br />
<br />
The average position map kind of lies – being an average position map – but there also aren't many Porto players near Firmino's position. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/dQQqQjl.png"><br />
<br />
When Firmino plays this well, it is very, very hard to stop Liverpool. Salah and Mané get the attacking headlines, van Dijk and Alisson the defensive, but I'm still tempted to argue that no player is as essential to Jürgen Klopp's style of play as Roberto Firmino.<br />
<br />
But there's also Naby Keïta, leading the side in tackles, almost top in ball recoveries, an opening goal within five minutes no matter the heavy deflection, and so much running. So, so much running, compared to what Liverpool's midfield has looked like with Milner and Wijnaldum in advanced positions. <br />
<br />
There's also Jordan Henderson, again in a more advanced position, complementing Keïta, and similarly all-around everywhere, highlighted by his role in Liverpool's second goal, both in ball recovery and hockey assist. <br />
<br />
There's Alisson, saving two clear-cut chances from Moussa Marega in two minutes, less than five minutes after Liverpool scored its second. The game is very, very different had Porto made it 2-1 in the 30th or 31st minute. <br />
<br />
There's Fabinho, stood tall in the center circle shouting YOU WILL NOT PASS. <br />
<br />
There's Virgil van Dijk, the best defender in Europe, and Dejan Lovren partnering him, uncertain early on having just returned from injury, but increasingly comfortable as the match progressed.<br />
<br />
There's Trent Alexander-Arnold, another assist from a wide position, even if it wasn't a cross, and there's James Milner on the other flank, deputizing at left-back even though he hadn't played that position in ages, because he's James Milner and will do a job at any position. <br />
<br />
Aside from finishing one or two more chances (*glares at Mo Salah's form*), it's pretty much all you could have hoped for. And it all sets up Liverpool nicely for the second leg. Because Liverpool again won a European match at Anfield. <br />
<br />
The last time Liverpool lost European match at Anfield was October 2014, 0-3 to Real Madrid under Brendan Rodgers. Klopp's still yet to lose one, winning 14 and drawing four in the Champions League and Europa League. <br />
<br />
We've seen clean sheets in 11 of those 18 games. We've seen two or more goals in 13 of those 18 games, with three or more in nine of them. <br />
<br />
We've seen Liverpool in the Europa League final, then the Champions League final, and now putting themselves in position to qualify for this season's semi-finals. <br />
<br />
European nights are assuredly back at Anfield. And Liverpool are back amongst European's elite. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-72904156265526343782019-04-08T08:07:00.002-04:002019-04-08T08:07:41.527-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Southampton<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/04/visualized-liverpool-2-1-tottenham.html" target="blank">Tottenham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284900/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Southampton-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/kd5t9yS.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/kd5t9yS.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
We can talk about comeback wins again.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liverpool have 2.29 points per game this season in matches where they've been behind. Prior to this year, their best ever Premier League season was 2.26 points per game (2008/09) <a href="https://t.co/xeH7VdLPrs">https://t.co/xeH7VdLPrs</a></p>— Aveek Bhattacharya (@aveek18) <a href="https://twitter.com/aveek18/status/1114495899236032512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
There was the draw at Chelsea, but since then we've had Burnley (a), Arsenal (h), Palace (h), Burnley (h), and now Southampton (a). The only Premier League match that Liverpool trailed in and failed to take points from was the 1-2 loss at City, where Liverpool hauled themselves back level only to succumb to Sane's 72nd-minute strike. <br />
<br />
We can talk about late goals and late wins again. Everton, United, and that Chelsea draw earlier in the season, and now three in a row with the winner coming after the 80th minute. Scoring when it matters most, in the matches where it matters most. It ain't great for the heart but it's sure great for the overwhelming euphoria when we finally get to full time. <br />
<br />
Of course, we had to get to needing to come back and needing to win late, so we can also talk about Salah's struggles until scoring, the midfield issues in the first half – don't rewatch how Højbjerg's tracked on Southampton's opener – or how Liverpool have now failed to keep a clean sheet in five successive matches, the longest stretch without one since December 2018 - January 2019. <br />
<br />
But Salah did score; the midfield – a trio which hadn't started together since 3-0 Bournemouth in February – improved as the match went on, especially after Henderson replaced Wijnaldum; and Liverpool only conceded the one despite threatening more in the rickety opening half hour. <br />
<br />
So we can talk about other things. <br />
<br />
Like how Liverpool's full-backs have a combined 16 league assists so far. Which is tied with Cardiff and five more than Huddersfield has. The entire team. In the entire campaign.<br />
<br />
Liverpool most certainly have not gotten this level of production from full-back in recent seasons. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/fmpF4cf.png" width="500"><br />
<br />
Robertson's nine assists so far this season – with two more in the Champions League – would be more than all of Liverpool's full-backs totaled in 12 of the previous 14 seasons, all except 2004-05 and 2006-07. But the opposition can't just focus on his deliveries, because you've got Alexander-Arnold on the other side of the pitch.<br />
<br />
The production from those two has also meant a lot more goals from crosses than we're used to. <br />
<br />
By my count, we've seen 26 goals coming from crosses. Granted, this is using the loosest definition of crossing. We're counting Alderweireld's own goal against Tottenham, Alexander-Arnold's cross leading to Salah's shot saved. We're counting Mané's goal on opening day against West Ham, where Milner kept in a cross at the back post and laid off for Mané. We're counting both high crosses and low crosses, as long as the low cross isn't more of a close-range pass, and both open play and set play.<br />
<br />
Here's the list. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/phGB19q.png" width="550"><br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CAWAyt7EzdROWnNEvs7GOd8cRLVKtBOxWVTyBCK36Ik/edit?usp=sharing" target="blank">And here's the spreadsheet</a>, with some more detailed notes. <br />
<br />
18 of 26 led to goals directly from the cross. 14 goals came from open play, 12 from set plays. 12 crosses led to headed goals, nine to left-footed goals, and five to right-footed goals. 21 came from high crosses, five from low crosses, but the subjectivity means we probably could have counted a couple more goals as coming from low crosses – goals like Henderson's at Southampton on Friday. <br />
<br />
13 of the 26 have led to Liverpool's opening goal. Liverpool went on to win 12 of those 13 matches, the 1-1 draw with West Ham two months ago the only exception. <br />
<br />
But only four different players have an assist from crosses: Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, and Salah. Salah's only came from a corner, as did two of Milner's four, with the others a cross and the aforementioned back-post lay off. <br />
<br />
Crossing is also a strategy we've complained about it, in previous seasons and earlier this season. Because it is a strategy often employed by the weak – Tony Pulis' Stoke, Sam Allardyce's whomever. Get it in the mixer and let the big bodies do the work. Low risk, high reward, and agricultural as all get out. <br />
<br />
Which is obviously not how Liverpool treat crosses. <br />
<br />
Liverpool's crossing style is varied, Liverpool's targets for crosses are varied, but the output comes almost solely from two players, especially when in open play. And they're Liverpool's full-backs.<br />
<br />
Most importantly. Yes, we've seen goals against Bayern, Tottenham, and Arsenal, but the vast majority of these have come against Watford and West Ham and Newcastle and the like. Sides that sit deep, sides that defend, sides that Liverpool have to break down. This is the way that Liverpool have tried to rectify the failings of previous seasons. The brick wall bus parkers. The frustration. The inability to cut through an opponent when there are few opportunities to press or to counter.<br />
<br />
It is not always easy to watch, and has become harder as the season's gone on. The draining season becomes more evident when watching the ever-presents. Liverpool concede cheap goals more often, even if it's thankfully not all that often. Games narrow, results stay in the balance for the duration.<br />
<br />
But Liverpool somehow survive and somehow advance. <br />
<br />
It's a strategy that's working. The league table is evidence enough of that. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-71312050698254978752019-04-03T12:14:00.001-04:002019-04-03T12:14:13.293-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-2-1-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><I>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284873/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Tottenham" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/RahCt4h.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/RahCt4h.png" width="640"></a>natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-46214972314948924522019-03-31T14:15:00.000-04:002019-03-31T14:15:01.998-04:00Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham<b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/BxsrEHh.png" /><br />
Firmino 16'<br />
Moura 70'<br />
Alderweireld OG 90'<br />
<br />
And you thought Liverpool's last match was lucky. Good lord the season's gonna kill us all. <br />
<br />
It is very hard to talk about the football match when things like this happen. <br />
<br />
In a lot of ways, we've been here before. Liverpool are decent for most of the first half and open the scoring early, Firmino's wonderful header from Robertson's even more wonderful cross. But Liverpool don't get a second despite a handful of half-chances, and Liverpool's only shot on-target is that Firmino goal. They're once again up against a deep defense, with Spurs switching to a back three to both contain Liverpool and because they've barely got any available central midfielders. <br />
<br />
And Liverpool increasingly fumble and frustrate. And Spurs improve, because Spurs are not Fulham or Burnley or Everton or Leicester or West Ham, especially after Spurs switch to 4-4-2 at halftime. Now it's Liverpool increasingly pushed back, the fullbacks far less of an outlet with Eriksen and Rose on the wings and Tripper and Vertonghen solidly behind. <br />
<br />
We get angrier at Liverpool's midfield's inability to create, especially when paired with increasingly less destroying, not even doing what they're there to and at least keep possession. We get angrier at the lack of substitutions, Fabinho still on the bench, Keïta and Shaqiri seemingly not even in plans. <br />
<br />
<img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/1wSTEr9.png" />And an equalizer feels coming. Liverpool are doing *enough* – Van Dijk constantly heading away, Robertson's crucial block on Eriksen's rebound after Alisson saves Kane's wide angle shot, Matip thankfully scrambling Eriksen's cross behind rather than into his own net – but we're rightfully nervous. <br />
<br />
Then it comes. Sure, Harry Kane's barely fouled and takes the free kick with the ball still rolling, Trippier's damned close to offside, and Eriksen mis-hits his pass inside but it somehow falls perfectly for Lucas Moura. Multiple bad and unfortunate things needed to happen for Spurs to equalize. But Spurs equalized. Just as Leicester and West Ham did in those maybe costly draws, just like Fulham did two weeks ago. <br />
<br />
Thankfully, we got what we got two weeks ago. Which did not feel like happening until it somehow happened. <br />
<br />
Fabinho finally comes on, as does Origi. Liverpool push and press and both van Dijk and Firmino should have scored from the same corner and Origi's free kick is deflected barely wide and Mané's almost but not quite found by van Dijk with a long clearance. It is actually better, spurred into action by Spurs' goal. <br />
<br />
There should have been a winner here. And it should have comes from Tottenham. Liverpool, full bore for a second goal, are leaving themselves wide open. Tottenham break when Liverpool lose possession in the final third and it's Rose to Kane to Son to Sissoko, two on one against just Virgil van Dijk. But van Dijk's angles are perfect because van Dijk's almost always perfect, baiting Sissoko into a shot when unable to release Son, ballooned over. To make matters seem more lost, Dele Alli's curling an effort just off-target two minutes later. <br />
<br />
This is the way the world ends. With a draw at best and maybe a loss and there's no way City are dropping points in two matches let alone one. <br />
<br />
Until Liverpool get a corner, and Robertson corrals the clearance and Alexander-Arnold whips a cross to Salah at the back post. Header saved, but saved onto Alderweireld, rolling past and under Lloris just before 90:00 hits the clock.<br />
<br />
Pandemonium. Which, I certainly do not hesitate to add, is more than deserved after the way this fixture ended last season. <br />
<br />
And we live to see another day. Liverpool remain two points ahead of City, albeit having played one more match, as we go into April. The season lives on to kill us on another day. <br />
<br />
And it's thanks to yet another late winner. 3-2 Paris St-Germain, 1-0 Everton, 4-2 Palace (which somehow became 4-3), and now 2-1 Tottenham. All winners in the 90th minute or later. Not to mention 1-1 Chelsea in the 89th minute or 2-1 Fulham in the 82nd minute or maybe necessary two-goal cushions at Palace and in both matches against Burnley. <br />
<br />
Are they flukes if they're multiples? <br />
<br />
So no matter the sometimes sloppiness and more times of frustration. No matter the same again, almost punished again. No matter the struggles in attack or the odd mistake in defense, or the questionable decisions with both line-ups and substitutions.<br />
<br />
This is a team that does not give up. And that's by far the most important quality at this stage of the season. That might well be the only quality worth mentioning at this stage of the season. <br />
<br />
Six matches left.natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-45709148786837644602019-03-20T13:48:00.000-04:002019-03-21T07:57:53.087-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-3-1-bayern-munich.html" target="Blank"><i>Bayern Munich (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1285039/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Fulham-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/NSWX6sI.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/NSWX6sI.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Yes, yes, we know.<br />
<br />
This could and maybe should have been West Ham, United, Everton again. The recent away debacles, the recent away draws. Liverpool's struggles against a deep defense, Mohamed Salah's struggles. Liverpool scored, unlike the previous two away matches, but then Liverpool also conceded, thanks to an incredibly bad error from the two players who've revolutionized that Liverpool defense.<br />
<br />
It wasn't great, and there seems little point in hammering some of the recent negative traits over and over and over and over.<br />
<br />
So let's talk about some other stuff.<br />
<br />
Like how Sadio Mané is on another planet right now. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/vEOA79x.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/vEOA79x.png" width="640"></a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/3YFH37X.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/3YFH37X.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
11 of 11 from inside the box, with nine in the Danger Zone. Eight of 11 from clear-cut chances. An apex predator.<br />
<br />
Five from right-footed shots, three from left-footed shots, and three from headers. Capable of finishing with either foot or his header, from crosses or from passes on the floor. Versatility personified. But only one from a set play: the opener at Bournemouth, from a corner but a second phase, the initial ball cleared but Alexander-Arnold's cross back in converted. <br />
<br />
Every single goal in the first 30 minutes or the final ten. Six opening goals, three game-winners. Picking his moments. <br />
<br />
And they've been crucial, not only in timing but also just in scoring, as Salah has three goals and one assist over those 11 games (and two of the goals came in the first game of this stretch), while Firmino has three goals and three assists. <br />
<br />
Sadio Mané's doing work. It ain't gonna last forever, so enjoy it while it lasts.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s what happens when a lad with a career (very good) Shot conversion of 19% starts banging in 37% of his shots <a href="https://t.co/0yytOeCjZf">https://t.co/0yytOeCjZf</a></p>— SimonBrundish (@SimonBrundish) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonBrundish/status/1108297548631101440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mané has scored 11 goals from 4.23XG off of his last 30 shots <br />
That’s 37% conversion rate or 18% better than Messi</p>— SimonBrundish (@SimonBrundish) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimonBrundish/status/1108299390702231552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
We could also talk about how Liverpool got three points after a difficult Champions League knockout match, something they've not been able to do often under Jürgen Klopp. <br />
<br />
To be fair, it's not just a Jürgen Klopp thing. Liverpool have struggled in league matches after European knockout ties for years now. Most teams have, most teams do.<br />
<br />
But still.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/QLiTn9g.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/QLiTn9g.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Six wins following European knockout round matches, with four draws and four losses. An average of 1.57 points per game. 1.57 goals per game, 1.0 conceded per game. Not great. <br />
<br />
But it's even more stark away from home. Including the penalty shootout loss at Wembley, which we're counting as both a draw and an away match for simplicity, Liverpool's away record after European knockout games is 2W-3D-4L. Which is an average of a point per game, scoring an average of a goal per game and conceding an average of 1.33 per game. Which is really, really not good. <br />
<br />
So a win, any win, even if tortured, even if against the 19th-placed side in the league, is very much welcomed after the midweek exertions. <br />
<br />
Or how Liverpool won the match in the final ten minutes, which most memorably happened at Everton back in December, but also against Palace in January, against United in December, and against PSG in November, with Sturridge's equalizer at Chelsea back in September also worth a mention.<br />
<br />
Or how it's Liverpool's first league win away from home since beating Brighton on January 12.<br />
<br />
Or how Liverpool have already equaled Klopp's previous high for a Premier League campaign. 76 points, the same as in 2016-17, and a point better than last season's total. <br />
<br />
Or how Liverpool are back at the top of the table, albeit only by two points against City's game in hand, but they're there, rather than taking just one point and remaining level with City despite that game in hand. <br />
<br />
So, sure, it was most definitely not the best match. Sure, there are still seven games to go, and an excellent chance that it still ends in tears. No matter. There was good – good that some of the frustration and the pressure has made us forget – and there was a win. Try to enjoy the ride. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-15717777773606802632019-03-17T13:31:00.003-04:002019-03-17T13:31:54.648-04:00Liverpool 2-1 Fulham <b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/FUDeuX2.png" /><br />
Mané 26' <br />
Babel 74'<br />
Milner 81' [pen]<br />
<br />
And breathe. <br />
<br />
Good lord. I cannot believe Liverpool have gotten away with that. <br />
<br />
The narrative was perfect. Just perfect. You couldn't write it better. And somehow, it doesn't come to fruition. <br />
<br />
We start with the same old problems seen in basically every away match of 2019 except Wednesday. West Ham, United, Everton all over again. A mountain of possession, another deep defense that Liverpool strains to get past. Even when Liverpool open the scoring midway through the first half, unsurprisingly through Sadio Mané, with his 11th goal in the last 11 games. <br />
<br />
But they don't get two. What looked certain to be a thorough whooping after 30 minutes looks a 1-0 grind at best by 60 minutes. Both pace and passing tail off as opportunities dwindle. Crosses and corners aren't finding Liverpool's players, and those are what Liverpool increasingly turn to. Firmino and Salah are particularly off-color, the former struggling to link up with his line-mates and the latter tackled in the final third time and time again. <br />
<br />
Still, it's probably going to be okay, because the opposition ain't gotten shit going forward. <br />
<br />
Until they do. <br />
<br />
To be slightly fairer to Fulham, it felt possible for ten or so minutes before the goal, the home side starting to actually unsettle Liverpool. It felt more Liverpool complacency than anything else, but Sessegnon for Seri gives also Fulham another threat. Fulham have the ball in Liverpool's goal in the 65th minute, a counter-attack following Firmino's sloppy pass in the final third ending with Anguissa's shot redirected home by an offside Ayite, who then has a fast break shot blocked by Lallana. <br />
<br />
But Liverpool steadies. And then Liverpool just absolutely Liverpools. <br />
<br />
Milner, just on a substitute, hacks a Sergio Rico goal kick up and behind. A goal kick which came from Sadio Mané hitting the crossbar. Van Dijk leaves it for Alisson, who leaves it for van Dijk. Whose header back to Alisson is soft and with back spin and falls instead to Ryan Babel for a tap-in. <br />
<br />
Let's go through that again. James Milner, Liverpool's most experienced player and one of the few title-winners in the squad. Virgil van Dijk, who we all rightfully called the best center-back in the world just three days ago. Alisson, who's literally saved Liverpool, the position Liverpool have had the most problem with for years. <br />
<br />
And Ryan Babel, ex-Liverpool player and punchline, now a kitchen-sink option mercenary for a team near-certain to be relegated. <br />
<br />
Oh, yeah, and Liverpool did this against the 19th-placed side in the division, on their third manager of the season, who'd lost ten of their last 11 matches, who'd only taken two points off top-ten sides: a draw against Watford back in September and dawn with Leicester in early December. <br />
<br />
While smack in the middle of a title race where their competition just does not stop winning.<br />
<br />
*chef kissing fingers emoji*<br />
<br />
But then Liverpool go and ruin it less than seven minutes after Fulham's equalizer. Salah's into the box and gets it wrong again, his shot straight at Sergio Rico, but Rico palms it down rather than catches, Mané steals in, and Rico hugs Mané to the ground. And Milner, who'd started the calamity seven minutes earlier, absolutely nails the penalty down the middle. And we're done here, with Salah still somehow unable to score, a couple of efforts off-target and a clear-cut chance too close to Sergio Rico. <br />
<br />
So, yeah. It is hard to think anything other than this is a different season than all the seasons before. A different Liverpool. A Liverpool that doesn't 4-4 with Arsenal or slip against Chelsea. It was not good and it doesn't really bode well and there are still those regrettable draws over the last two months but Liverpool still won and Liverpool go into the international break atop the league by two points.<br />
<br />
There are still seven games left to break our hearts. Manchester City is only behind on games played, and can break said hearts through no further fault of Liverpool.<br />
<br />
No matter. Ride the fortune as long as it'll last. And continue to believe that the best remains possible. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-62413980783838395432019-03-15T10:00:00.003-04:002019-03-15T10:01:42.231-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Bayern Munich<b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-4-2-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1343409/Live/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2018-2019-Bayern-Munich-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/lXM5PZX.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/lXM5PZX.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Man, it's been a while since Liverpool had space to play like that away from home. And Liverpool did what Liverpool does with space. <br />
<br />
Just 42% possession. Just ten shots. But six on-target. And three goals: two from long passes – one behind the back line, one a quick set play – and one from a corner. <br />
<br />
The defense to soak up the pressure – even if there were some frights in the first half – and the attack to punish multiple times when given the chance. <br />
<br />
It's Liverpool's Champions League recipe. We saw it in all of the knockout rounds last season. And, once again, the Champions League Round of 16 is Sadio Mané's time to shine. <br />
<br />
This wasn't as emphatic as those knock-out rounds last season, but this Bayern Munich side is better than Roma or Porto, and Liverpool aren't quite as vicious in attack as they were a year ago. Liverpool very much took its chances in the first legs against all three opponents, and did *enough* in the second. <br />
<br />
This time, Liverpool needed the performance under second-leg pressure, at the ground of a side who'd qualified for the Champions League semi-finals in five of the previous six seasons. This is a Bayern side that's top of the Bundesliga on goal difference and in form; they were six points behind Dortmund at the winter break and are now on pace to win the damned thing yet again. <br />
<br />
But make no mistake, this could have gone differently. Liverpool were under frequent threat in the first half, both before and after Mané's opener. But a threat without fruition as Bayern also had little to show for their possession dominance. Liverpool were disjointed, struggling to link passes together, whether to get out of their half or get into Bayern's. And we were frightened. But Bayern weren't much more effective over the first 25 minutes, and then Liverpool scored, and the tie's finally completely different. <br />
<br />
Sure, Bayern almost got back into it, an own goal equalizer 13 minutes after Mané's opener, but nothing more. Bayern took just one shot between their equalizer and Liverpool's second goal: Alaba's 30-yard free kick straight at Alisson. The rest of their efforts: Gnabry and Goretzka swiftly blocked by Robertson and Matip in the 78th and 81st minutes, and Sanches from distance not close in the 83rd. <br />
<br />
Liverpool did to Bayern what too many sides have done to Liverpool lately, at least at Liverpool's end of the pitch. A struggle to get through, despite the impetus, needing an own goal to get their lone goal over 180 minutes. And then Liverpool, sharper at the other end of the pitch than United or Everton were against them, also needing to score because of the requirements of the competition. <br />
<br />
Had Liverpool taken its chances at Anfield, this could have been a lot like City last season, rather than needing this performance in Munich to advance. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Bayern. <br />
<br />
Liverpool dominated the full 180 minutes of this tie. It just took a little longer for that to turn into a safe win than you'd expect. <a href="https://t.co/Woi5MGkJZT">pic.twitter.com/Woi5MGkJZT</a></p>— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1105954797197451264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
Sadio Mané loves him some Champions League. Two clear-cut chances missed in the first half of the first leg against Bayern, two goals from clear-cut chances two days ago: a perfectly-timed run behind Rafinha, with the control to dance around the on-rushing Neuer and chip retreating defenders for the first, a striker's run and headed goal just like his opener against Watford for the second. Mohamed Salah continues to struggle in front of goal, but almost totally makes up for it in his creation, looking for teammates as often as his shot when getting into the box, a delicious assist for Mané's game-killing third. <br />
<br />
I like this attack, it's still a good attack. Especially when they've got space to counter-attack into, whether through the front three's runs on the ball or receiving passes from van Dijk, Matip, and Fabinho over the opposition's defense. <br />
<br />
But I remain most impressed by Liverpool's defense. What did Robert Lewandowski over two legs? Sure, he'd have been on hand to tap in had Matip not stutter-stepped a clearance into his net own net, but otherwise? Two off-target shots, no key passes, just two seven when contesting aerial duels (including losing both on Wednesday), and the fewest touches by a Bayern player over two legs. And that was the case whether he drifted onto van Dijk or Matip, or even Fabinho in the first leg. <br />
<br />
Last season's knockout stages were an announcement of that front three to the world. This season's, at least so far, announces Virgil van Dijk as the best center-back in the world. <br />
<br />
And he wasn't even that busy in defense! A handful of interceptions and clearances, a tackle or two. But not even tested with a defense aerial duel, as Lewandowski found next to no joy in the first 10-15 minutes and shifted onto Matip early. He's there organizing the defense both in open play and on set plays, holding the offside line, compressing the space. <br />
<br />
But there he is with long passes for Liverpool's first and third goals: over the back line to find Mané's run in perfect stride, then with the quick free kick to Origi in space. But there he is rising highest for the tie-sealing second, out-jumping the pretty-damn-good-themselves Hummels and Süle to head in Milner's corner for his fourth goal in the last three months.<br />
<br />
Liverpool remain basically unbelievable at the back, with just those two flukes against Burnley and the own goal on Wednesday the only goals conceded in the last seven matches. Alisson, Robertson, and Matip have started all seven matches; van Dijk missed the first leg through suspension, Alexander-Arnold missed the Bournemouth and United matches when returning from injury.<br />
<br />
It's almost hard to believe when facing this caliber of opponent, but Liverpool will have harder fixtures to come. Because as good as Bayern is, and as well as Liverpool's played, at least over the final 50-60 minutes, this remains the type of game we should worry less about. As strange as that is to write about a team with that pedigree. Liverpool defense is, more often than not, going to be really good. And Liverpool's attack can be as well. But they've more trouble when space is at a greater premium.<br />
<br />
When Liverpool's opponents fear Liverpool far more than Bayern Munich did. Which the Premier League has very much learned to do by now. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-63809859129700092142019-03-12T17:41:00.000-04:002019-03-12T17:41:07.993-04:00Visualized: Liverpool 4-2 Burnley <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/03/visualized-liverpool-0-0-everton.html" target="Blank">Everton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <A href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1285011/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Liverpool-Burnley" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/dnsuExv.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/dnsuExv.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
I'm still not sure if that was a good attacking performance.<br />
<br />
Which is weird, because Liverpool took 23 shots and had six clear-cut chances and scored four goals. Those are all good things! Mané both created and scored, Firmino scored, and Salah took more shots and created more chances than in any match since Bournemouth a month ago. <br />
<br />
23 shots is Liverpool's most since taking 36 (!!!) in the 3-1 win over United back in December. And that's especially heartening considering the dearth of shots against Leicester, West Ham, United, and Everton over the last five weeks, although three of those four were away from home. <br />
<br />
But ten of those 23 were blocked by Burnley defenders. Eight were off-target. Ten came from outside the box. Only one on-target shot didn't result in a goal: Salah in the 88th minute. It's not terrible accuracy, but it ain't great accuracy either.<br />
<br />
More importantly, only three of those six clear-cut chances were created by Liverpool players: Robertson's cross for Wijnaldum's header in the 67th minute, Alexander-Arnold's low cross which Mané slammed into the crossbar, and Sturridge's assist for Mané's second goal deep into added time. The other three came off of Burnley players: Taylor's tackles on Salah falling for Mané and Firmino, Firmino's tap-in after both Tarkowski and Mee muffed Salah's byline pass. <br />
<br />
Those, to be fair, were Liverpool's best three chances of the match. Those were Liverpool's first three goals. And they very much depended on a fortunate bounce of the ball, no matter Salah's good work in the build-up for the first or Lallana's pressing to start the second.<br />
<br />
But, like Palace, like Bournemouth, like Watford, Liverpool have won yet another game while scoring bunches of goals at Anfield, even if I'm still not sure about the overall level of competence. Liverpool were better able to turn possession dominance into efforts at goal, Liverpool were better able to press the opposition in the opposition's half, Liverpool turned shots into goals. <br />
<br />
And that's a good sign. Maybe that's almost something of a turning point. Liverpool struggled with deep defenders and blocked shots at both United and Everton, to say nothing of a handful of matches which came before. Liverpool still got shots on Sunday, still got clear-cut chances on Sunday – where they didn't against either United or Everton – and still got goals.<br />
<br />
But the home versus away disparity remains stark as stark can be.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/VRtT1nu.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/VRtT1nu.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
Liverpool's last eight home matches over the last three months? Three, four, five, four, one, three, five, and four goals scored. An average of 3.63 goals scored per game.<br />
<br />
Liverpool's last six away matches over the last three months? Two, one, one, one, zero, and zero goals scored. An average of 0.83 goals scored per game. <br />
<br />
On a related note, I certainly ain't worried about Burnley's goals. The first never should have stood, and Westwood would struggle to replicate it even with Alisson being fouled. The second was a gift, Liverpool shut off in injury time when up by two, and Burnley still needing a fortunate deflection of their own from Keïta's tackle. It is just the second time that Liverpool have allowed two or more goals in a league match at Anfield, after 4-3 Palace two months ago.<br />
<br />
Liverpool have conceded nine goals in 15 home games, eight goals in 15 away games. They've nine clean sheets at home and eight clean sheets away.<br />
<br />
The venue doesn't really matter for Liverpool's defense, the two goals conceded on Sunday not withstanding. It seems to very much matter for the attack. No matter whether Salah or Firmino are the striker, whether Liverpool play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, whether Liverpool are reliant on crosses or get help from the midfield.<br />
<br />
Liverpool have had similar amounts of possession in pretty much all of these last 14 matches, the loss at City and romp over Arsenal the only real exceptions. It's where the possession's taken place: Liverpool remain far more active in the opposition half at Anfield, both in threading moves together, finding attackers with long passes out of defense, and, yes, an ability to press, this time led by Adam Lallana. They haven't gotten those chances away from home, for all the reasons above. Or not doing the things listed above. Both the way the opposition's played and how Liverpool has – and, I'm assuming, the opposition's comfort level on their own ground.<br />
<br />
Liverpool have four matches away and four matches at home left. Fulham, Southampton, Cardiff, and Newcastle – sides that Liverpool scored two, three, four, and four against at Anfield. The home slate is harder over the next two months – Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Wolves – but I suspect the away matches will be more decisive. <br />
<br />
Beginning first with Bayern in the Champions League, then in London against Fulham on Sunday. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-85290214938436165852019-03-10T10:33:00.004-04:002019-03-10T10:33:38.147-04:00Liverpool 4-2 Burnley<b>Goals:</b><img align="right" hspace="25px" src="https://i.imgur.com/EM3j435.png" /><br />
Westwood 6'<br />
Firmino 19' 68' <br />
Mané 29' 90+3'<br />
Gudmundsson 90+1'<br />
<br />
Liverpool often face adversity when playing Burnley. And somehow usually thrive. <br />
<br />
The reverse fixture: a 3-1 win after conceding first, stifled for over an hour but immediately replying to Burnley's opener. Last season: 2-1 at Burnley thanks to Klavan's late winner after Burnley equalized in the 87th minute and a 1-1 draw after Salah canceled out Arfield's opener. And at Anfield in 2016-17, another comeback win after conceding in the opening seven minutes. <br />
<br />
It's yet another comeback win after conceding first. After conceding stupidly and unfairly and the world is ending it's happening again the title's gone and we're all gonna die. It's Liverpool behind, but not for long, and then Burnley not in the match.<br />
<br />
This opener takes some beating. A corner that never should have been, but Jöel Matip gets his wires crossed on a hopeful hoof forward. <a href="https://twitter.com/RowenB_/status/1104727099951194112" target="blank">Alisson fouled by two different Burnley players</a> as Westwood's cross comes in, uncalled, as Westwood's cross goes directly into Liverpool's goal. For Westwood's first goal for Burnley, his first goal in three years. For the first goal that Liverpool have conceded in 517 minutes of football. A day after Manchester City opened the scoring in their match with one of the most offside goals you'll see. Six minutes into today's match.<br />
<br />
So that didn't start well. <br />
<br />
It finished just fine. <br />
<br />
Firmino equalizes within 13 minutes, tapping in after both Tarkowski and Heaton muddle up Salah's low byline cross. Mané gives Liverpool the lead after Lallana's pressing blocks a Burnley clearance, falling straight to Salah, tackled by Taylor but the rebound rammed home. Firmino extends that lead after a period of dominance without reward, another rebound from another Taylor tackle on Salah, this time set up by Heaton's goal kick going directly to the Egyptian. <br />
<br />
Burnley give us a tiny fright, Gudmundsson pulling one back in the first minute of added time, Liverpool switched off and failing to clear before Vydra slid in his fellow substitute, but Mané relieved it two minutes later, rounding Heaton when put through by Sturridge's wonderful through ball from the flanks.<br />
<br />
4-2 is somehow closer than it should have been and a wider margin than it should have been.<br />
<br />
Liverpool could easily have scored more, but Mané hit the crossbar from about four yards out late on, Burnley made a few last-ditch interceptions and blocks that didn't fall directly to Liverpool players, and Liverpool's attack – read: Mohamed Salah – still isn't firing on all cylinders despite those four goals. And fortune almost made full amends for Burnley's opener, with Liverpool getting help for three of their four goals. Either Tarkowski or Heaton should have cleared before Firmino's tap-in; Bardsley could have avoided Lallana's pressing, with both Lallana's block falling straight to Salah and Taylor's tackle falling straight to Mané; and Heaton's goal kick going directly to Salah, again with a Burnley tackle setting up Mané. Three unassisted goals, with the last touch coming off Burnley defenders. <br />
<br />
It wasn't quite Bournemouth or Watford, as a rampant Liverpool attack utterly dismissed an opponent. But it's still four goals. And still three points. <br />
<br />
And once again, there are parallels with recent matches. Palace at Anfield, as Palace score first but Liverpool score four. But Burnley were nowhere near as threatening as Palace, both because Burnley does not have Palace's players and because Liverpool's defense was even more in control despite conceding twice. <br />
<br />
Burnley took just three shots. Three. And they were lucky to get that. There was that corner. Hendrick from distance in the 34th minute, swiftly blocked. That late, unnecessary consolation. Virgil van Dijk, with help from his friends, allowed no more. It's weird to say when scoring four and conceding two, but Liverpool's defense remains Liverpool's best feature. <br />
<br />
Still, Burnley did beat Tottenham two weeks ago, did draw 2-2 at Manchester United a little over a month. They've scored in six of their last seven games, with at least two in four of them. Sean Dyche remains the most hateable anti-football warlock, especially now that Stoke and Tony Pulis are out of the league.<br />
<br />
So, regardless of the score line, it wasn't the most coherent performance. It wasn't the most thorough attack, but again a multi-goal performance at Anfield, as against both Bournemouth and Watford. Lallana, in a surprise start, might well have been Liverpool's most impressive player, a needed link between midfield and attack, especially since crosses were almost an impossibility in that wind. But Firmino and Mané both scored twice; Salah did *okay* despite failing to score for the fifth game, at least in position to get chances and set up teammates even if again too often tackled by a last defender as at Everton; Fabinho remains almost as crucial to protecting Liverpool from counters and long balls as Virgil van Dijk; and Robertson was more influential than usual, needed with Alexander-Arnold off-color.<br />
<br />
It was good enough. Good enough to get all three points, good enough to keep Liverpool just a point behind Manchester City. More than good enough, because at this point of the season, the points are all that matters. Somehow get goals, somehow keep the other guys from doing so. By any means, etc. And it's even more encouraging that Liverpool, yet again, did so despite a set-back through little fault of their own, despite conceding with the match barely started. <br />
<br />
The chase, now that it's become a chase, remains on. When it could easily have been lost by a less resilient side. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-82238027880318269592019-03-05T14:13:00.003-05:002019-03-05T14:13:48.755-05:00Visualized: Liverpool 0-0 Everton <b>Previous Match Infographics:</b> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-5-0-watford.html" target="Blank">Watford (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester.html" target="Blank">Manchester United (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-0-0-bayern-munich.html" target="blank">Bayern Munich (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-3-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (h)</a> <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/02/visualized-liverpool-1-1-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-1-leicester.html" target="blank">Leicester (h)</a>, <A href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-4-3-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/visualized-liverpool-1-2-manchester-city.html" target="Blank">Manchester City (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-5-1-arsenal.html" target="blank">Arsenal (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-newcastle.html" target="blank">Newcastle (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-2-0-wolves.html" target="blank">Wolves (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-manchester.html" target="blank">Manchester Utd (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (h)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-4-0-bournemouth.html" target="blank">Bournemouth (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-3-1-burnley.html" target="blank">Burnley</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/12/visualized-liverpool-1-0-everton.html" target="blank">Everton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-2-paris-st.html" target="blank"><i>Paris St-Germain (a)</I></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-3-0-watford.html" target="blank">Watford (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-2-0-fulham.html" target="blank">Fulham (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/11/visualized-liverpool-1-1-arsenal.html" target="Blank">Arsenal (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-1-cardiff-city.html" target="blank">Cardiff (h)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-4-0-red-star.html” target=“blank”><i>Red Star Belgrade (h)</I></a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-0-huddersfield.html” target=“blank”>Huddersfield (a)</a>, <a href=“https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-0-manchester-city.html” target=“blank”>Manchester City (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-0-1-napoli.html" target="blank"><i>Napoli (a)</i></a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/10/visualized-liverpool-1-1-chelsea.html" target=“blank”>Chelsea (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-3-0-southampton.html" target="blank">Southampton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/09/visualized-liverpool-2-1-leicester.html" target="Blank">Leicester (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-1-0-brighton.html" target="blank">Brighton (h)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-2-0-crystal-palace.html" target="blank">Crystal Palace (a)</a>, <a href="https://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2018/08/visualized-liverpool-4-0-west-ham.html" target="blank">West Ham (h)</a><br />
<br />
Match data from <a href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284959/Live/England-Premier-League-2018-2019-Everton-Liverpool" target="blank">WhoScored</a>, except average position from the <a href="http://www.sofascore.com" target="blank">SofaScore</a> app. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/SihH8Ft.png" target="Blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/SihH8Ft.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
We are settling into a routine. And it's a routine I'm not especially fond of.<br />
<br />
For all the "this is like the 3-0 win over Bournemouth, maybe we're okay" after housing Watford, we're back to "oh hell everything's boned," just like after 0-0 United. <br />
<br />
The last two home matches have been basically the same. And now, the last two away matches have been as well. <br />
<br />
And it's all about the attack. <br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/NFtUh9n.png"><br />
<br />
Part of this is simply Liverpool's failings. Had Salah's touch been better when Coleman and Keane made their last man tackles, had Fabinho's been better when Digne made his, had Matip actually put his free set play header on-target. <br />
<br />
More of this has to do with what the opposition did. Or, more appropriately, what the opposition wouldn't let Liverpool do.<br />
<br />
In one word: press. More words will do, but that's a starting point. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/H1eoz1b.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/H1eoz1b.png" width="640"></a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/25MPVsj.png" target="blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/25MPVsj.png" width="640"></a><br />
<br />
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/StfO0Nk.png"><br />
<br />
Get rid, get rid quick. Dump it long, force Liverpool to restart, get men back. And if Liverpool don't turn you over when you're penned deep, Liverpool ain't gonna create much. There are damned few counter-attacks coming the length of the pitch when the opposition's able to bunker at 0-0.<br />
<br />
It is not coincidence that Liverpool's best chance, Liverpool's only clear-cut chance, came when Fabinho won possession in the center circle and immediately found Salah on the run.<br />
<br />
That's when Liverpool resort to long passes of their own, playing far more than usual just as Everton did, hoping that they'll find one of the front three's runs, runs which became fewer and farther between as the match when on.<br />
<br />
That's when Liverpool resort to crosses. Which, sometimes it works (hi Watford) and sometimes doesn't (hi United), depending on both the quality of delivery and opposition defending.<br />
<br />
That's when Liverpool hope for something from set plays. But the deliveries weren't consistent enough, van Dijk was well defended, and neither Fabinho or Matip could convert the half chances they got: Fabinho receiving van Dijk's header across the six-yard box after a short corner, unable to control, and Matip's free header wide. <br />
<br />
Liverpool's attempted remedy, to make this different than Liverpool's last away match, was to keep the same surprising front three which started against Watford. Which is understandable; that took both Watford and us by surprise and worked to a tee. Well. On Sunday, Sadio Mané did not register a shot or a key pass as the central striker. Divock Origi had one off-target chance similar to that he scored against Watford, but also an average position on the halfway line, deeper than Wijnaldum, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, Mané, and Salah. Salah had Liverpool's best openings, but Salah couldn't convert; which, to be fair, also happened against Watford.<br />
<br />
Granted, away matches are harder than home. Everton and United are tougher than Watford and Bournemouth; Watford's higher in the table than Everton, but a derby's still a derby's.<br />
<br />
On the plus side, there's one thing the last four matches all have in common. Zeroes for the opposition scoreline. That's now four consecutive league clean sheets, five in all competitions. Liverpool haven't kept five consecutive clean sheets since November-December 2006. 2006! <br />
<br />
Liverpool's opponents haven't registered an xG total higher than 0.63 in these last four matches. Watford's, with Gray's clear-cut chance denied by Alisson, actually posted the highest total. Bournemouth's xG was 0.39, United's 0.48, and Everton's 0.24. That Gray chance and a Paul Pogba set play header are the only clear-cut chances Liverpool have allowed in these four games, and I very much quibble with classifying Pogba's chance as one. <br />
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Liverpool had a higher xG in a single match against Bournemouth or Watford than the last four opponents have had combined. That, contrary to current opinion, bodes fairly well. <br />
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This is a historically good Liverpool defense. It's a defense propelling Liverpool's title challenge. And I doubt many would've guessed that happening back in August. <br />
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At the current rate, Liverpool are on pace for 22 league clean sheets, which would be the most for a Premier League side since Manchester United in 2008-09. Liverpool already have 17, which is the most for the club since 2009-10, Rafa Benitez's final season. Liverpool are on pace for 91 or 92 points, which would have won the Premier League in all but three of 26 previous seasons, all except 2004-05, 2016-17, and 2017-18. No side's ever earned more than 90 points and failed to win the league.<br />
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Unfortunately, Liverpool are also in a title race with one of the most dominant sides that the Premier League has seen. And the margin for error is basically zero. natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.com0