Liverpool FC Reloaded have embarked on the new Premier League season with a promising start.
Promising Start Amidst Challenges
Despite a contentious VAR-infected loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Jurgen Klopp’s team came into the campaign on the back of an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak from the previous season.
Five of their first eight fixtures were on the road, including clashes against top-eight teams from the prior season and traditional giants like Chelsea.
These factors haven’t made for an easy opening, but Liverpool managed to secure 17 points, placing them just three points off the league summit.
Strengths & Growth
Analyzing the statistics reveals both areas of strength and room for growth for Liverpool. They’ve netted 18 goals this season, surpassed only by Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Brighton.
Defensively, only five teams have conceded more than Liverpool’s nine goals.
xG Exceeds, Defense Needs Attention
However, their expected goals (xG) metric indicates that Liverpool have scored more than anticipated, with an xG of 16.8, only surpassed by Newcastle.
Meanwhile, they’ve conceded fewer goals than their expected goals against (xGA) of 11.5 would suggest.
Despite this, the xGA figure ranks 11th in the league, signifying a need for improvement in defensive solidity.
Liverpool’s xGD and Passing Trends
Liverpool’s expected goal difference (xGD) ranks fifth overall, but their away xGD is negative, falling behind local rivals Everton.
Manchester City and Arsenal lead in this metric, showcasing their potential to challenge for the Premier League title.
In terms of distribution, Liverpool ranks sixth in pass attempts and completion rate. Notably, they’ve shifted away from a reliance on long passes this season, currently ranking ninth.
Aerial Dominance, Attacking Challenges
Despite their proficiency in the air, Liverpool lags behind in attacking dribbles and faces more tackles in such plays than most teams.
Surprisingly, given their goal-scoring prowess, Liverpool aren’t among the top five for shots on goal or shots on target, indicating a need for better accuracy in their attempts.
Challenges in Midfield Balance
The team’s attacking instincts have been hampered by several games played with reduced player numbers, affecting statistics like average possession, where they stand eighth.
Additionally, Liverpool concede more fouls per game than all but three teams, and opponents win more tackles against them than most others, indicating the absence of a dedicated defensive midfielder.
Individual Standouts in Scoring
Individually, Mohamed Salah is matching Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in goal involvement with nine.
Darwin Nunez leads in this metric per 90 minutes, ahead of Callum Wilson and Salah. Curtis Jones boasts the highest pass completion rate at 94.3%, emphasizing his importance.
Individual Stars Shine Bright
Dominik Szoboszlai is among the league’s top seven for progressive passes and third for shot-creating actions.
Salah excels in goal-creating actions, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah, and Alexis Mac Allister stand out for through balls.
Mac Allister, despite challenges in the number six role, ranks among the top five for tackling dribblers and successful blocks. Joe Gomez impresses with a 90% success rate in aerial duels.
Liverpool FC Reloaded: Promising Start
Liverpool FC Reloaded shows promise but needs to address issues such as conceding too many chances, improving shooting accuracy, and maintaining discipline.
The team’s performance hinges on keeping all 11 players on the pitch to get a clearer picture of their campaign’s progress.
Liverpool’s strong attacking options and individual talents like Salah, Jones, and Szoboszlai offer hope for a successful season with some tactical adjustments.