Corners

[refugee]

Taken from here: http://www.thisisanfield.com/2016/02/liverpools-attacking-defending-corners-stats-revealed/

Liverpool’s attacking and defending corners stats revealed
Liverpool’s ineptitude from corner kicks is much maligned among the fanbase, so we found out exactly how bad the Reds are at attacking and defending them this season – read on!

We’ve looked at all corners taken in the Premier League from the beginning of the 2015/2016 season till now (26 rounds), a total of 2786 corners, and came up with the followings:
Attack:

• LFC have had 188 corners, highest in the league.

• Scored 5 goals from corners – fourth in the league with Leicester City, Norwich City, Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur. League average is 4.

• LFC is fifth place in reaching chances from corners with more than quarter of their corners ending in a chance. (25.5%)

• LFC scores a goal from corner every 38 corners – 11th place in the league. Which is below league average.

• Reliance on corner kicks 13.2% of LFC goals scored from corners. Slightly above league average.

• 4th place in taking short corners rather than cross it directly towards the area, with 26.1% of short corners (league average is around 17% short corners)

Bottom line: Though Liverpool have the highest number of corners in the league, have a high percentage of chances from corners and scoring above league average goals from corners, their goal-per-corner ratio is below the league average.
Defence:

• 120 corners taken against Liverpool, 16th in the league (average is 139.3)

• A total of 8 goals has been scored against LFC from corners which is the highest number in the league.

• Sixth in the league in the highest % of chances reached from corners. Every fourth corner against Liverpool their opponent reaches a chance (25.8%)

• LFC concede a goal from corner every 15 corners, worst in the league.

• Liverpool opponents scoring 22.2% of their goals from corners which is second highest in the league (Swansea first with 23.5%). The average is 11.9%!

• 85% of LFC opponent’s corners crossed directly towards the area.

Bottom line: Without question Liverpool has the poorest defence when it comes to corner kicks.
What we’ve learned:

Clearly, Liverpool’s defensive ineptitude at corners is being exploited by opposing teams. It’s a clear weakness and one that opponents are looking to exploit – 25% of corners against us leads to a chance!
Almost a quarter of all corners result in a goal against (22%), double the league average!
Attacking wise, it shows that corners shouldn’t be that anticipated for anyone. We get the most corners in the league, possibly due to how many shots we take. We score a few, but not as many as we should from the amount that we get.
We take a lot of short corners, probably because we know we’re pretty rubbish at attacking them and have a team lacking in the air.

http://e.infogr.am/lfc_corner_performance?src=embed

Nothing really new in that, but it's interesting to see the figures. I suppose it doesn't help that our best players in the air are Lovren (who is also error prone), Skrtel (who hasn't had a great season) and Benteke (who doesn't move)

 

[Comical Aly]

Change our goalie and that would look a lot different.

 

[gkmacca]

The art of taking a penalty has declined alarmingly in the league as a whole. It makes the fashionable but farcical 'Oooh, look at me, I'm SO crafty' ritual of placing the ball slightly outside the corner arc even more brain-achingly stupid because, just about every time players do that, they then proceed to hit the ball either straight on to the head of the first defender or balloon it way over everyone's head.

 

[tombrown]

The art of taking a penalty has declined alarmingly in the league as a whole. It makes the fashionable but farcical 'Oooh, look at me, I'm SO crafty' ritual of placing the ball slightly outside the corner arc even more brain-achingly stupid because, just about every time players do that, they then proceed to hit the ball either straight on to the head of the first defender or balloon it way over everyone's head.

I think if anyone takes a penalty from just outside the corner arc then they truly are brain achingly stupid

 

[doctor_mac]

I think if anyone takes a penalty from just outside the corner arc then they truly are brain achingly stupid

They all seem to do this.

 

[gkmacca]

They all seem to do this.

And the linesman stands there looking at them do it. If it keeps on happening they'll be creeping up to the penalty area soon!

 

[doctor_mac]

And the linesman stands there looking at them do it. If it keeps on happening they'll be creeping up to the penalty area soon!

Well quite often the linesman points at the ball forcing the guilty player to move the ball a tiny fraction of an inch towards the corner. Which is always enough to satisfy the lineman.

 

[tombrown]

Guys I really think that if someone was taking a PENALTY from the corner arc, the linesman would do more than just point at the ball. Not to mention the cries of merriment & derision coming from the crowd.

 

[willby]

The art of taking a penalty has declined alarmingly in the league as a whole. It makes the fashionable but farcical 'Oooh, look at me, I'm SO crafty' ritual of placing the ball slightly outside the corner arc even more brain-achingly stupid because, just about every time players do that, they then proceed to hit the ball either straight on to the head of the first defender or balloon it way over everyone's head.

One possible reason 'fashionably' taken corners appear so farcical could be something to do with the type of balls. Is there a possibility that our players train with different balls than the FA/UEFA/FIFA match balls?

 

[gkmacca]

Guys I really think that if someone was taking a PENALTY from the corner arc, the linesman would do more than just point at the ball. Not to mention the cries of merriment & derision coming from the crowd.

It's as if we're having almost but not quite the same conversation!

 

[tombrown]

The perfect "penalty"?

 

[gkmacca]

One possible reason 'fashionably' taken corners appear so farcical could be something to do with the type of balls. Is there a possibility that our players train with different balls than the FA/UEFA/FIFA match balls?

No, they train with the same balls for the forthcoming match. But this trend simply demonstrates how most players do little but watch each other on TV when they're not playing themselves. If one player started squatting like a golfer preparing for a putt before taking a penalty, within weeks you'd see loads of them doing it. They can't help but imitate unthinkingly.

 

[willby]

No, they train with the same balls for the forthcoming match. But this trend simply demonstrates how most players do little but watch each other on TV when they're not playing themselves. If one player started squatting like a golfer preparing for a putt before taking a penalty, within weeks you'd see loads of them doing it. They can't help but imitate unthinkingly.

Farcissists, the lot of them...🙂

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Our corners are fucking shite.

 

[willby]

The perfect "penalty"?

By my reckoning this 'penalty' is some 50- 100 years ahead of its time😀

 

[Hyena]

The art of taking a penalty has declined alarmingly in the league as a whole. It makes the fashionable but farcical 'Oooh, look at me, I'm SO crafty' ritual of placing the ball slightly outside the corner arc even more brain-achingly stupid because, just about every time players do that, they then proceed to hit the ball either straight on to the head of the first defender or balloon it way over everyone's head.

I always thought the reason they do that is because (1) they want to keep distance from the corner flag. (in case they kick it when wrapping their foot around the ball or something) and (2) reduce the chances of it going behind for a goalkick.

 

[gkmacca]

No, otherwise it would've been worked out about fifty years or more ago. Unless one considers this bunch of dullards a new breed of intellectual giants. In any case, to accidentally kick the corner flag suggests a whole new level of incompetence, and this season has seen several players already, while using this stupid gimmick, hit the ball straight out for a goal kick.