En the metrics in which modern football moves, ‘expected goals’ set the trend. A statistic that indicates how the offensive wind blows and that Liverpool turned into a hurricane against Newcastle. “We played a super game. Sensational. I loved many aspects of the game… except the goals we conceded. The pressure we put on is to see football schools. The show must go on“Jrgen Klopp confessed after winning (4-2) to the ‘Magpies’.
A duel in which the ‘Pool’ It broke all the expected goals marks in the Premier since there were records reaching 7.27! To put it in context, it was more than the combined figure of 9-0 against Bournemouth (3.32) and 7-0 against United (2.78). All after accumulating 34 shots (15 on goal) and Dbravka being the visiting hero despite conceding four goals with his 10 saves! Salah (double) directed a perfect storm that took over Newcastle, elevating them to the lead in the Premier.
After 20 days, They are two points ahead of Aston Villa and five points ahead of Manchester City (with one game less) and Arsenal. They have only lost one game (2-1 against Tottenham in September) and have gone 13 games without defeats. They are also in the semifinals of the Carabao and in the round of 16 of the Europa League, showing that they have returned to their best level, displaying that “full-throttle football” with which they overwhelmed rivals and collected titles between 2018 and 2022.
Klopp’s reinvention
After a blank season in which they were left out of the Champions League, Klopp “changed things”, as he himself pointed out. After breaking up the ‘MSF’ in previous seasons by doing away with Firmino and Man and bringing in Gakpo, Darwin, Luis Díaz… the German renewed his midfield in the summer. The veterans Fabinho, Henderson, and Milner left, leaving their place for the young Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Endo.
A revolution that has given more legs and travel to its core, filling its fuel tank to play its round-trip football. “We have recharged and it’s exciting. Everyone was asking for changes (and rightly so) after a long time together. “It’s a new opportunity,” he said.
We gave the ball away and counter-pressed. We recovered it, we attacked, we shot… We wore them down. We were ‘on fire’
“It looks very good. Something is beginning to be born and now it’s time to channel it into the grass,” said the German. And 20 days later, the ‘reds’ rule the Premier after recovering their classics. “When Klopp arrived they played frenetically. There was a lot of pressure and they were fast. Sometimes you didn’t know what was happening. They lacked composure but it was exciting. Heavy metal football. Then they softened while maintaining their fire and became a wonderful team that challenged City. Many players have left and are now back in a transition period. “They are not polished yet but there is electricity,” explained Gary Neville. And the data proves it.
Rise in 2023-24
Liverpool have 13 more points than a year ago at this point. Then they were seventh and saw the lead at 18 units! A boost that has come from their improvement in both areas: they are the second highest scoring team (43 goals) after City (45) and the least scored team (18 goals conceded). Klopp has regained his balance “without killing our essence”, as he noted after getting tougher with the signings of Van Dijk and Alisson five years ago. His ‘Pool’ plays without ties and hits like a hammer… but does not neglect the defense as he did last year. And that there is a hole in the left side due to injuries to Robertson and Tsimikas.
The resurrection of Liverpool? “Something is beginning to be born”
“There have been games in which we had the ball, we dominated, we took a lot of shots but we didn’t score as much. In this game the whole team was ‘on fire’. We ‘gave away’ the ball and counter-pressured. We recovered it, we attacked, we shot… We wore them down,” said Curtis Jones. Nobody shoots more (19 kicks per game) in the English League than a Liverpool team that has hit the woodwork 14 times!
I don’t look at the statistics much. We don’t stop, which is the most important thing. Let’s go, let’s go and let’s go again
They need to improve the effectiveness that Salah has left over. At 31 years old, The Egyptian is the top scorer (14 goals, the same as Haaland) and the top assist (eight assists, like Watkins) in the Premier. ‘Mo’ connects all the cables to make the ‘Pool’ work. It is the link between Klopp’s two red works. “We believe a lot. We need to work hard and express ourselves on the field. If we manage to do so, we can continue winning,” said Salah, questioned about Liverpool’s chances of winning the title.
The casualties of Salah and Endo
After the Christmas surge, the ‘reds’ once again challenge a City with whom they played the Premier in 2019 and 2022 until the end and with a record, winning it in 2020. A challenge that they will have to face soon without a Salah who is going to the African Cup. A very sensitive loss like that of Endo, heading to the Asia Cup. Without ‘Mo’, ‘expected goals’ may decrease. “I don’t look at the statistics much. We don’t stop, which is the most important thing. Let’s go, let’s go and let’s go again“Klopp summarized. His Liverpool has always been like that.
