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Liverpool​

Top at Christmas, in the Champions League knockout stage and a Carabao Cup semi – it couldn’t have gone much better. The team have been formidable and adapted with ease to a shift in style, showing both swagger and diligence. Getting the better of Real Madrid was a standout, as were the game at Old Trafford and the performance against Spurs, which, apart from a sloppy few minutes, was relentless. Salah again deserves every plaudit that comes his way but others, like Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones and Gakpo merit all the acclaim they’re now getting. And the boss …

Happy with the manager? And some. He’s been outstanding, galvanising the squad with no additions (Chiesa doesn’t count yet), and solving the defensive midfield role by putting Gravenberch there. He has instilled a new confidence in the team who are all playing with smiles. He is erudite and funny, batting away contract talks, and he can get pretty het up as his yellow cards and touchline ban show.

We will finish … First.

What we need in January … New deals for Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, a future captain, and Salah. After that, signing Murillo from Forest could help with our defensive injuries.

Funniest moment in 2024? First game of the season at Ipswich and the home fans aggrieved at the referee belt out: “Who’s the Scouser in the black?” Instant retort from the away end: “Alisson! Alisson!” Made me laugh.

  • Steph Jones

Taken from the Guardian’s half term report.
 

View: https://x.com/OptaAnalyst/status/1879584499425841187

Across their 31 games in all competitions this season, Liverpool have won 24, drawn five and lost just two. It would therefore be a stretch to suggest that they’re only playing well for half the time.

But like a wide-eyed January gym newbie, we’re willing to stretch a little bit.

It probably points to how consistently impressive Liverpool are in the second halves of games rather than how bad they’ve been in the first, but it does seem to be a common occurrence that Arne Slot is being praised for his half-time team talks. His side often come out roaring for the second half after a relatively insipid first 45 minutes.

They have been behind at half-time in five games this season, but didn’t go on to lose any of those (W1 D4). They have been level at the break in 11 games, of which they have gone on to win eight times (D1 L2). They have been ahead in the other 15 games, and have won all 15 of them. Only their defeats against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and Tottenham in the EFL Cup have seen their result worsen in the second half out of 31 games.

Breaking down the difference into more detailed stats, Liverpool have averaged 0.9 goals scored in the first half from 0.9 xG, with 7.3 shots attempted. Going the other way, they have conceded 0.4 goals from 0.3 xG against, and 4.3 shots faced.

It’s a stark contrast with the second half, when they average 1.5 goals scored from 1.4 xG, with 9.6 shots attempted. Defensively, they have conceded 0.5 goals from 0.5 xG against, and 5.8 shots faced.

1.jpg


It should be mentioned that due to factors such as game state, substitutions, tiring players, length of stoppage time and teams generally chasing results, you often see more shots and goals in the second half of a game compared to the first. Premier League teams this season have averaged 0.7 goals each in the first half of games and 6.2 shots, while that goes up to 0.8 goals and 7.1 shots in the second half. But Liverpool’s leap between the first and second half has been even more pronounced.

One player who epitomises the difference for Liverpool between the two halves is Mohamed Salah, who has scored a mighty 21 goals in all competitions this season, but amazingly, only two of those have come in the first halves of games. That is only half the number scored by Darwin Núñez, whose four strikes this season have all come in the first half.

Salah does have nine assists in the first half to his name, though, at least six more than anyone else. He also has 19 goals in the second half, at least 10 more than any other Premier League player this season, and a further eight assists. Cody Gakpo is next with nine second-half goals, having scored three in the first half.

Luis Díaz is Liverpool’s top scorer when just considering first halves, with seven goals in the opening 45 minutes of games, adding a further five in second halves.

Salah has attempted 38 shots in the first half of games, at just a 5.3% shot conversion rate (including blocks) and an xG of 4.0, despite having 117 touches in the opposition box. Compare that to the second half, when he has attempted 65 shots with a 29.2% shot conversion rate, had 148 touches in the opposition box and amassed 15.1 xG.

2.jpg


This is not to say Liverpool are playing badly in the first half every game. Just look at recent away games at Tottenham and West Ham when they were 3-1 and 3-0 up respectively at the break, and deservedly so. Their 3-0 home win over Bournemouth earlier in the season also saw all three goals scored in a scintillating first 45 minutes at Anfield.

It perhaps just stands out more because they so consistently produce the goods in the second half. You do wonder if Slot could just say to his players before the game whatever it is he’s telling them to do at half-time (yes, we know that’s oversimplifying it, so don’t bother pointing that out!).

They can’t always rely on having enough to kill the game late on, though. Liverpool have failed to score in the first half in their last three games against Premier League opposition, giving themselves work to do in the second and ultimately they were unable to win any of them.

They remain the team to beat in the Premier League, but Slot will surely be keen to see the best of his team earlier in games more often.

If nothing else, Reds fans would probably just appreciate a calmer half-time pint.
 
King Binny said:

View: https://x.com/OptaAnalyst/status/1879584499425841187

Across their 31 games in all competitions this season, Liverpool have won 24, drawn five and lost just two. It would therefore be a stretch to suggest that they’re only playing well for half the time.

But like a wide-eyed January gym newbie, we’re willing to stretch a little bit.

It probably points to how consistently impressive Liverpool are in the second halves of games rather than how bad they’ve been in the first, but it does seem to be a common occurrence that Arne Slot is being praised for his half-time team talks. His side often come out roaring for the second half after a relatively insipid first 45 minutes.

They have been behind at half-time in five games this season, but didn’t go on to lose any of those (W1 D4). They have been level at the break in 11 games, of which they have gone on to win eight times (D1 L2). They have been ahead in the other 15 games, and have won all 15 of them. Only their defeats against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and Tottenham in the EFL Cup have seen their result worsen in the second half out of 31 games.

Breaking down the difference into more detailed stats, Liverpool have averaged 0.9 goals scored in the first half from 0.9 xG, with 7.3 shots attempted. Going the other way, they have conceded 0.4 goals from 0.3 xG against, and 4.3 shots faced.

It’s a stark contrast with the second half, when they average 1.5 goals scored from 1.4 xG, with 9.6 shots attempted. Defensively, they have conceded 0.5 goals from 0.5 xG against, and 5.8 shots faced.

View attachment 3762

It should be mentioned that due to factors such as game state, substitutions, tiring players, length of stoppage time and teams generally chasing results, you often see more shots and goals in the second half of a game compared to the first. Premier League teams this season have averaged 0.7 goals each in the first half of games and 6.2 shots, while that goes up to 0.8 goals and 7.1 shots in the second half. But Liverpool’s leap between the first and second half has been even more pronounced.

One player who epitomises the difference for Liverpool between the two halves is Mohamed Salah, who has scored a mighty 21 goals in all competitions this season, but amazingly, only two of those have come in the first halves of games. That is only half the number scored by Darwin Núñez, whose four strikes this season have all come in the first half.

Salah does have nine assists in the first half to his name, though, at least six more than anyone else. He also has 19 goals in the second half, at least 10 more than any other Premier League player this season, and a further eight assists. Cody Gakpo is next with nine second-half goals, having scored three in the first half.

Luis Díaz is Liverpool’s top scorer when just considering first halves, with seven goals in the opening 45 minutes of games, adding a further five in second halves.

Salah has attempted 38 shots in the first half of games, at just a 5.3% shot conversion rate (including blocks) and an xG of 4.0, despite having 117 touches in the opposition box. Compare that to the second half, when he has attempted 65 shots with a 29.2% shot conversion rate, had 148 touches in the opposition box and amassed 15.1 xG.

View attachment 3761

This is not to say Liverpool are playing badly in the first half every game. Just look at recent away games at Tottenham and West Ham when they were 3-1 and 3-0 up respectively at the break, and deservedly so. Their 3-0 home win over Bournemouth earlier in the season also saw all three goals scored in a scintillating first 45 minutes at Anfield.

It perhaps just stands out more because they so consistently produce the goods in the second half. You do wonder if Slot could just say to his players before the game whatever it is he’s telling them to do at half-time (yes, we know that’s oversimplifying it, so don’t bother pointing that out!).

They can’t always rely on having enough to kill the game late on, though. Liverpool have failed to score in the first half in their last three games against Premier League opposition, giving themselves work to do in the second and ultimately they were unable to win any of them.

They remain the team to beat in the Premier League, but Slot will surely be keen to see the best of his team earlier in games more often.

If nothing else, Reds fans would probably just appreciate a calmer half-time pint.
Click to expand...

Honestly why is this a surprise? I would bet that ALL PL games have similar stats. In the first half of most games the inferior team still has the energy to race from side to side and track back. In the second they start to tire and higher quality substitutions can then play their part. It's to be expected.
 
As we’ve said all along and similar to Klopps runs, it’s all about injuries, mental and physical fatigue.

It’s super hard to play at your best every week for 9 months.

Still a long way to go. One defeat and Arsenal can be all over us again.

Could really do with a bigger buffer, our last 6 games are brutal and we’ll most likely be in the hunt for the CL too.
 
Dreambeliever said:
As we’ve said all along and similar to Klopps runs, it’s all about injuries, mental and physical fatigue.

It’s super hard to play at your best every week for 9 months.

Still a long way to go. One defeat and Arsenal can be all over us again.

Could really do with a bigger buffer, our last 6 games are brutal and we’ll most likely be in the hunt for the CL too.
Click to expand...
Also unlike Arsenal we still have domestic cup competitions to attend to.
 
Dreambeliever said:
As we’ve said all along and similar to Klopps runs, it’s all about injuries, mental and physical fatigue.

It’s super hard to play at your best every week for 9 months.

Still a long way to go. One defeat and Arsenal can be all over us again.

Could really do with a bigger buffer, our last 6 games are brutal and we’ll most likely be in the hunt for the CL too.
Click to expand...

I share your anxieties but at the same time we're in a far better position than any of us could have expected coming into this season.

Hope we have a special run-in but, regardless, we're in good hands.
 
the count said:
bafkreif442slk23v2w65cdfouilr5q5sxhh7px2bcnvrgzklpomuf52nua@jpeg
Click to expand...

So not a huge difference to Klopp’s team overall - just 2 points and 1 goal in goal difference more. The biggest change has been City’s drop-off, which has nothing to do with Slot.

To be fair, we’re also doing better in the CL this season.
 
moron said:
I was hoping tge dufference was more, but now I expect a downturn, so conclusion, both managers are shit as each other.
Click to expand...
It's all receny bias.

Easy to forget just how formidable we were last season up until April. That Quansah pass really did derail us. Refs also shafted us from getting more points away at Spurs, home to City and home to Arsenal. Possibly even Utd too.

The real comeback kings season, going 1 down 20 odd times and winning like 18 of them.
 
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