Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham

Previous Match Infographics: Wolves (h), Barcelona (h), Newcastle (a), Barcelona (a), Huddersfield (h), Cardiff (a), Porto (A), Chelsea (h), Porto (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



It is more than fitting that we end this campaign with a defensive masterclass.

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.

That ain't this Liverpool side.

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.





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.

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.

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.

There have been multiple reasons for the defensive improvement. Here's one.

Alisson Becker, Liverpool 18-19 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE radar and shots faced. pic.twitter.com/DlsmCRnvav

— StatsBomb (@StatsBomb) June 3, 2019

Otherwise known as the guy who made eight saves between the Tottenham's first substitution and Liverpool's second goal.

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.



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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It was also very hot, very humid, and there had been three weeks since either team played a competitive fixture, and it showed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This Liverpool side did it. Thankfully, because I don't know if I could have taken another "so close, yet so far" moment.

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.

But that did not happen.

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.

Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham

Goals:
Salah 2' [pen]
Origi 87'

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.

And I do not care, because Liverpool just won the Champions League, for the sixth time in the club's history.

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.

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.

And it worked. It bloody worked. I can't even.

It worked despite Liverpool completing their fewest passes in a half this season in today's first half, despite Liverpool's lowest passing accuracy of the season. 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.

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.

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.

It worked because Alisson made eight saves – all in the final 20 minutes – even if most were routine and all were expected.

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.

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, who scored with all three of his Champions League shots this season: 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.

Again, I can't even.

"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.

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.

It deserves this. Every single one of them deserve this. And the more that's to come.

Visualized: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Previous Match Infographics: Newcastle (a), Barcelona (a), Huddersfield (h), Cardiff (a), Porto (A), Chelsea (h), Porto (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



"Football is a funny old game" doesn't come close to satisfying. Football is fucking hilarious sometimes.

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.

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.

You cannot make this stuff up sometimes.

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.

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.

But as much as 0-3 in the last leg lied, 4-0 in this does.

Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Barcelona

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. pic.twitter.com/nDdg9BsPxi

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) May 7, 2019

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes football's simple. And sometimes man plans and Liverpool laughs.

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.

And there's Liverpool in Europe.

Liverpool are the only team to have beaten both Barcelona and Real Madrid by four goals in the 21st century.

— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) May 8, 2019

Olympiakos. Istanbul. Dortmund. Barcelona. We can go back farther – it is "five times," after all – but let's stick with recent memory.

June 1st will see Liverpool's third European final in Jürgen Klopp's fourth season.

Sometimes sport is pain. As we're all well aware. But, sometimes, we are inevitable.

Visualized: Liverpool 0-3 Barcelona

Previous Match Infographics: Huddersfield (h), Cardiff (a), Porto (A), Chelsea (h), Porto (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I mean, it ain't rocket science.

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.

Which sucks.

The game plan wasn't bad. The game plan was surprisingly and satisfyingly bold.

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.

And Liverpool tried.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All of this feels vaguely and unsettlingly familiar.

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.

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.

And also, shit happens. Especially when Lionel Messi is involved.

So, yeah, not great, and not entirely Liverpool's fault. Still, Klopp's two big line-up decisions did not work as hoped.

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.

Wijnaldum – and it's not entirely his fault – did few of those things. Here's Gini's 79 minutes of work:



No shots. No dribbles. No tackles. One key pass, an in-box layoff to Milner just after half time.

More specifically, here's Gini's 79 minutes of passing.



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?

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.

So who becomes the third shot-taker? James Milner. Which – and we all love Hamez Thrillner – is welp.

This was the one glaring example of Liverpool not doing Liverpool.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Visualized: Liverpool 4-1 Porto

Previous Match Infographics: Chelsea (h), Porto (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



Well, we certainly didn't expect that to end 4-1 after the first half.

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.

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.

Except.

Not much to like about that performance but the scoreline is excellent.
Porto 15 shots to 4 and 57% possession but the XG map is important pic.twitter.com/r4QnBucLZA

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) April 17, 2019

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.

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.

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.

Make that 8 out of Liverpool’s last 10 opening goals for Mané! https://t.co/b12tS3vMtJ

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) April 17, 2019

First goalscorer in 3 of Liverpool’s past 4 away games:
At Bayern: Mane 26th min
At Fulham: Mane 26th min
At Porto: Mane 26th min

— Bill Edgar (@BillEdgarTimes) April 17, 2019

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.

But more importantly. We learned something we already knew. Porto learned something Porto already knew.

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.

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.

They all count the same, though.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Despite a few tetchy moments – encouragingly few – in the end, we get this.

xG map for Porto - Liverpool.

what kind of person watched this pic.twitter.com/VbWsnIT4V0

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) April 17, 2019

And this.

Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Porto

the easy draw is a nice thing to get pic.twitter.com/XNrt7QKe4T

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) April 17, 2019

"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.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Porto

Previous Match Infographics: Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I love European football.

Because, unlike the vast majority of the Premier League, European sides do not set up to specifically deny Liverpool opportunities to press.

And then matches like this happen.

For a team who had 64% possession, them’s some big Reds numbers. pic.twitter.com/8Rlv1KIzLg

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) April 9, 2019

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.

Those matches did not look like this one, even if the results were mostly similar (*glares at Merseyside Derby*).

More importantly, it's probably not coincidence that both of Liverpool's goals came from winning the ball back in midfield.



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.

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.

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.



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.

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.

The average position map kind of lies – being an average position map – but there also aren't many Porto players near Firmino's position.



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.

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.

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.

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.

There's Fabinho, stood tall in the center circle shouting YOU WILL NOT PASS.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

European nights are assuredly back at Anfield. And Liverpool are back amongst European's elite.

Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Bayern Munich

Previous Match Infographics: Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Bayern.

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. pic.twitter.com/Woi5MGkJZT

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) March 13, 2019

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When Liverpool's opponents fear Liverpool far more than Bayern Munich did. Which the Premier League has very much learned to do by now.

Visualized: Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich

Previous Match Infographics: Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 

xG map for Liverpool - Bayern. Both sides had to cobble together a lineup without some key pieces but only Bayern looked it. They managed to scrape, claw and sadio-mane-missing-shots their way to a fortunate 0-0. pic.twitter.com/Vr3FcDTCdb

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) February 19, 2019

FT: #LFC 0 (1.8 xG)#FCBayern 0 (0.3)
The tie still very much alive, but Liverpool will feel it was an opportunity missed having been the superior side. Bayern will surely pack more of a punch in the home leg than they did tonight. #UCL #LIVBAY #LFCFCB pic.twitter.com/spprP9aMtF

— Infogol (@InfoGolApp) February 19, 2019

This suggests that Liverpool done fucked up. A two-legged tie against a side that's literally always in the last stages of the Champions League, at home in the first leg, with that kind of output. And very, very little to show for it.

And that's kind of true! Liverpool really could and maybe should have won with those chances, and I wouldn't be surprised if we regretted and rued Liverpool's finishing come next month in Munich. Of course, I am rarely surprised when bad or disappointing things come to pass because I can't help being me, but still.

It was especially galling in the first half. Three clear-cut chances missed: Salah's back post header off-target in the 24th minute, Mané's shot wide on the spin from Keïta's blocked shot in the 33rd minute, and Mané's attempted bicycle kick – which probably shouldn't go down as a big chance – in the 38th minute.

This certainly wasn't how last season's first legs at Anfield bore out. 3-0 against City, 5-2 against Roma; Liverpool scored three goals from their first four shots against City, Liverpool scored five goals from 12 shots over a 35-minute span bridging halftime, with three from clear-cut chances, against Roma.

That suggests Liverpool need a performance like that to cancel out any potential second-leg drama. Because, despite those score lines, there was still a ton of drama in both of those second legs.

Yet this Liverpool also isn't last season's Liverpool. This season's Liverpool doesn't have to outscore any and everyone because this Liverpool can actually defend. Even when missing Virgil van Dijk, forced to partner fourth-choice Jöel Matip with midfielder-by-trade Fabinho, with Alexander-Arnold also making his first start in five weeks.

Yes, Liverpool put just two shots on-target in the entire match: Liverpool's first shot from Salah in the 12th minute and Liverpool's penultimate shot from Mané in the 86th. That's less than ideal, and two shots on-target from 15 or so shots is something which hasn't happened since last season. It happened three times last season: the 0-0 against Stoke in April sandwiched between the Roma legs, the 1-2 at Manchester United in March, and the 1-1 at Newcastle back in October. And it's still less than ideal when considering that Bayern had none. Yes, none. No shots on-target. With Fabinho and Matip as Liverpool's center-back pairing.

Yes, Liverpool's first shot in second half came in the 81st minute, with Bayern doing a wonderful job of eliminating Liverpool's capacity to press and limiting final third entries. Zero shots for the first 35 minutes of the second half, in a home knock-out round tie. As much credit for that goes to Bayern Munich as blame goes to Liverpool.

Manuel Neuer's 62 attempted passes is the most I can remember from a goalkeeper in a match I've done an infographic for, going back to 2012-13. Only Henderson and Fabinho attempted more passes for Liverpool than Neuer did for Bayern. Pity that Neuer just passed fit for this match, having missed substantial time in the couple of weeks before. Neuer, along with Süle, Kimmich, Hummels, and Thiago, were outstanding at playing keep-away from Liverpool, taking the sting out of the press, especially as players tired in the second half.

And Bayern weren't just calm on the ball, but diligent and resilient off it.



The two sides tackled at a similar rate, but Bayern's interceptions and clearances dwarfed Liverpool's – 20 to 10 and 29 to 12 respectively. The vast majority of those interceptions came just outside the box in the middle of the pitch and inside right territory: also known as Mohamed Salah Territory. The vast majority of the clearances came in a similar area if unsurprisingly deeper: the middle and right side of Bayern's penalty box. Also known as etc etc.




Liverpool had similar amounts of possession and passes in the second half as the first, but found it far harder to get into the penalty area, increasingly forced to shift wide and look for crosses rather than playing through the middle. Which helps explain the dramatic decline in Liverpool shots after halftime.

And now Liverpool has it all to do in Germany. A true knockout tie, precariously balanced but now in Bayern's favor.

There's not a lot of precedent when it comes to 0-0 home legs at Anfield in European knock-out competition. It's happened four previous times: against Valencia in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup, against Bilbao in the 1983-84 European Cup, and against Bayern Munich in the 1980-81 European Cup and 1971-72 Cup Winners' Cup.

Liverpool advanced from three of those four ties: getting past Valencia on away goals and beating both Bilbao and Bayern in the European Cup by a 1-0 margin. The only loss came back in 1971, a 1-3 defeat in Munich. I am very amused that three of the five occurrences in Liverpool's history now feature Bayern Munich.

But Liverpool's past obviously isn't always precedent.

Seven of the last 10 CL knock-out ties which began with a 0-0 saw the side at home in the second leg progress 😯 pic.twitter.com/AZ0XepRwml

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) February 19, 2019

0-0 1st leg is the closest to parity for who qualifies in European knockout football. 55/45 in favour of Bayern

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) February 19, 2019

It's not the happiest result, and we may regret Liverpool's inability to take advantage of their first half performance yesterday. But it's certainly not a bad result, especially considering that a makeshift defense nullified Bayern even more than Bayern nullified Liverpool. And Liverpool still have an excellent chance of progressing: any score draw, or, you know, just win.

And it's still only the second 0-0 of the season, the same amount as at this time last season. But last season's were against Manchester United – how's the job search going, Jose? – and West Brom, again both at Anfield. Not quite the same as Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

It's still a competent performance, if not our favorite result, against European royalty, a side that's qualified for the Champions League semi-finals in six of the last seven seasons. A side that's as much troubled by Liverpool as Liverpool were by them.

It's still up to Liverpool to make the most out of this still-impressive season so far.

Visualized: Liverpool 1-0 Napoli

Previous Match Infographics: Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



Except for Liverpool's finishing, that's pretty much where Liverpool want to be. Which is a nice thing to write when it's a match to decide whether you progress in the Champions League or get knocked down into the ugly stepsister competition.

Just like in the last match at Bournemouth, Liverpool's game plan went as hoped. Need 1-0? Score in first half, counter as the game goes on. Go back to the 4-3-3, a better set-up for pressing, a better set-up for fast breaks from that front three. And that's exactly what happened. Except, you know, scoring multiple times on said fast breaks and preventing us from biting fingernails and day drinking as ninety minutes refused to run out.

Liverpool control possession for the first half-hour, then get the necessary goal in the 34th minute through Mohamed Salah. Possession and more possession, and a refusal to let Napoli clear, keeping the ball until Milner spots Salah's run, sliding off Mario Rui and finally beating the impressive Koulibaly before nutmegging Ospina with his weaker foot from no angle.

That was fun.

And then Liverpool proceed to contain rather than control, but both limit chances and increasingly create more of their own. Liverpool take more than twice as many shots in the second half compared to the first half. Liverpool have four clear-cut chances in the final 15 minutes. Liverpool really should have sealed the game long before the final whistle.

xG map for Liverpool - Napoli. This one never should have come down to a last-second save by Alisson. Really great performance by Liverpool besides finishing. pic.twitter.com/wVZHbS6iF3

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) December 11, 2018

It's still swings and roundabouts when it comes to actually putting the damned ball in the damned net. Liverpool put almost half their shots on target and score with almost all of said shots on-target at Bournemouth? Three days later, Liverpool put just four of 22 shots on goal and score with just one, missing the target with three of four clear-cut chances. Similar happened after winning 3-0 at Watford, when Liverpool put seven of ten shots on-target and scored three times in 22 minutes, then struggled to shoot or score against both PSG and Everton.

Except Mo Salah keeps scoring.

That's now 13 goals in 23 appearances this season, Liverpool's top scorer with almost twice as many as Mané in second place, scoring in ten different matches. He's got the opening goal in eight of those ten matches, with seven ending up as the game-winner when Liverpool's gone on to keep a clean sheet. Liverpool have played four 1-0 matches this season; Salah has been the lone scorer in three of those four. He is an absolute force of nature, especially at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah at Anfield:
38 appearances, 2996 minutes (33.3 '90's)
33 goals
15 assists
Goal or assist every 62 minutes.
Failed to score or assist 9 times (six starts, three sub apps)
Never gone more than one start without directly contributing to a goal. pic.twitter.com/wBmsMyy0cv

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 12, 2018

Also, it's nice to be able to praise the midfield that we've had so many issues with this season – rightly or wrongly. Both Wijnaldum and Milner were heavily involved in both the attack and the press, their average position on the same line as Firmino and Mané. Wijnaldum led the side in shots, albeit with none on-target and three of the four in the final ten minutes. Milner created five chances, behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold, including the penetrating assist for Salah's goal, with Wijnaldum also registering the hockey assist. Not coincidentally, those two midfielders led the side in tackles along with Mané, with Wijnaldum attempting four and successful with three, while Milner successful with five of six.

There's probably a reason that Klopp keeps using these three in big matches, the starting midfield in the 3-2 v PSG, 1-1 at Chelsea, 0-0 v City, 1-2 at PSG, and now this – as well as the 2-1 win at Leicester back at the beginning of September.

And then there's the defense. Again. Liverpool's last two defensive signings starred, again, with van Dijk again imperious, and Alisson again heroic. That late save truly did save Liverpool, denying Milik from point-blank range in the 91st minute, only the third save he had to make yesterday and the only that was truly taxing.

It's almost apt that Milik got that chance by shirking off Lovren, with the defender on as a substitute after an injury to Alexander-Arnold. Lovren got caught ball-watching. Lovren didn't contend the cross, on his back foot as Milik controlled. To be fair, Lovren was hamstrung by a slight deflection off Fabinho. To be less fair, that's seemingly often an issue with Dejan Lovren: a perfectly cromulent defender for 85 minutes – honestly, better than cromulent – but then somehow caught in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing. Dejan Lovren is now third or fourth-choice defender in this team rather than first-choice he'd been for a few seasons. A few seasons which saw a few more goals conceded.

But there's also Andy Robertson bombing up and down the left. There's Trent Alexander-Arnold with six key passes and the only Liverpool player with more than one interception. There's Jöel Matip with maybe the best game of his Liverpool career, completely in control against both Mertens and Insigne.

There's an outstanding defense, a midfield performing to its function in a match that suits how they function, and an attack that's still getting there but clearly getting there. An attack that's closer to there than they were a month, two months, three months ago.

And so it ends as yet another massive European night. You know the list. This is now on it. Liverpool have still yet to lose a European match at Anfield since Klopp became manager, stretching back to that embarrassing 0-3 loss to Real Madrid in October 2014.

Klopp's European Record at Anfield:
P16 W13 D3 L0 F45 A13 pic.twitter.com/SCGaIgYpAO

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 12, 2018

Bring on the Round of 16 and woe to the side that draws Liverpool.