Some Stats - Make of it what you will

[BobTheCharmer]

So I'm bored, I've had a look at the Premier league stats to get some idea of what's going on with us this season. I've done the leg work, others feel free to comment away....

Team Passes
Ranked 1) LFC - 15,292
Ranked 2) City - 14,967
Ranked 3) Utd - 12,677

My thoughts - No real surprise we top this one with City

Backward Passes
1) City - 2378
3) LFC - 2228

My thoughts - This does surprise me a little to be honest although only because I assumed we would be miles clear of the pack

Long Passes
1) LFC - 1301
20) City - 1021

My thoughts - this confirms my suspicion that we launch it too often. City pass back more than us but they have more patience. For us to be top and City bottom on this stat gives room discussion.

Crosses
1) LFC - 534
15) Utd - 379
16) City - 361

My thoughts - we all know we cross way to often as we lack any other ideas at present. Massive contrast between us and Utd & City.

Goals from Headers
1) Everton - 10
2) LFC - 9
3) Utd - 9
11) City - 5

My thoughts - More than I thought but percentage wise considering our crosses its low. No doubt Virgil would have added 2 or 3 by now.

Corners Taken
1) City - 155
2) LFC - 150

My thoughts - we both have more of the ball so I suppose its inevitable that we'll both be at the top of this chart.

Shots
1) LFC - 353
2) City - 340
3) Utd - 334

My thoughts - what's to see here?

Shots on target
1) Utd - 136
2) LFC - 127
3) City - 124

My thoughts - the 3 top scoring teams have the most shots on target

Hit the Woodwork
1) West Ham - 15
4) City - 12
18) LFC - 6
19) Utd - 6

My thoughts - I'm tired of thinking

Goals from Outside the Box
1) Leeds - 8
3) Utd - 7
8) City - 5
13) LFC - 3

My thoughts - my heads gone

So plenty of stats. What I was after was miles covered but couldn't find it.

[Rich]

Insightful - 5 balls.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Stat Bob, Stat Bob you're a Stat Bob
You can give it to me, when I need numbers brought along
Stat Bob, Stat Bob you're my Stat Bob
And Bobby you can stat me on

[Exiled_red]

It's difficult to know what to make of those, I'd be interested to see how the % of shots on target in the earlier and later part of the season, during our ****ty form I think I read we had about 4 shots on target out of about 65, so our numbers would have been better earlier in the season.

The number of crosses is crazy, that said we have scored more headers than expected, but again how many are coming from crosses and how many corners and freekicks? Because having CBs up will affect those numbers from set pieces (not just in our CBs scoring but allowing our forwards to get more favourable marking match ups than they would get from open play). Taking this out would give us a truer estimate of how effective our open play crossing is. My guess is that half of our headed goals (at least) would be from set pieces, putting headed goals from open play crosses at about 1 for every 100 crosses.

[elrichio86]

Shots
1) LFC - 353
2) City - 340
3) Utd - 334

My thoughts - what's to see here?

Shots on target
1) Utd - 136
2) LFC - 127
3) City - 124

My thoughts - the 3 top scoring teams have the most shots on target

LFC: 36.0% on target
City: 36.5% on target
Utd: 40.1% on target

Not massively different between us and City, which comes as a bit of a surprise.

Combined with goals scored:

LFC: 44 goals
City: 43
Utd: 49

LFC: 8.0 shots per goal
City: 7.9 shots per goal
Utd: 6.8 shots per goal

Again, not much difference between us and City. Utd are scoring more per shot though.

So over the season so far, we're not doing too bad up front. It would be interesting to split this into before and after Xmas though: I think our pre-Xmas form is masking the stats to much to be able to make any conclusions.

[kingfunk]

There was was an interesting observation yesterday which was this season, whilst in the break we get to the opposition box then stop the ball dead and it inevitably goes sideways or backwards, effectively breaking up our own attack. We seem to run out of ideas and creativity once we get to the opposition box. Looking back at most the games, defence has not been our problem, it’s the final third. We need to get this sorted asap and we will then start winning games again.

[Doc_Piptorious]

There was was an interesting observation yesterday which was this season, whilst in the break we get to the opposition box then stop the ball dead and it inevitably goes sideways or backwards, effectively breaking up our own attack. We seem to run out of ideas and creativity once we get to the opposition box. Looking back at most the games, defence has not been our problem, it’s the final third. We need to get this sorted asap and we will then start winning games again.

Think we need a few players to mix it up a bit when we reach the final third and just have a pop from 18 to 20 yards. Far too often we do as you described and basically play our way out of an attacking position. If we started having a pop from distance every now and then it would stop teams from thinking that all they have to do to force us backwards/sidewards on every attack is to hold two deep lines of four.

Would make us a little more unpredictable for the other team and force them to commit some players to come out to try and block shots which in turn makes a bit more space.

[Mark79]

Can’t remember where I read it otherwise I’d link it, but..

I think we’re 2nd in pretty much every important metric, defensively, attacking, possession, winning the ball back, chances created, chances conceded, etc, etc. (And that’s with an average of 6-8 players missing for 2/3rds of the season so far).

Keep that up across a season and in theory that should result in 2 place in the league, or at least there abouts.

But, you can be doing these things consistently well, but still occasionally be undone by other (freak) things like:

all of the front 3 going on an all time cold streak in terms of finishing chances (West Brom up until Spurs).

Or, Alisson’s minute 5 self destruction yesterday.

[baitman]

For me the best observation is...

Crosses
1) LFC - 534
15) Utd - 379
16) City - 361

This shows that citys approach play is more exact and less left to chance.
They have always been better at breaking down the low block by clever intricate passing their way around the meat heads.
We just bounce off them until we either go backwards and bounce off again or try a cross into empty space.

[baitman]

Think we need a few players to mix it up a bit when we reach the final third and just have a pop from 18 to 20 yards. Far too often we do as you described and basically play our way out of an attacking position. If we started having a pop from distance every now and then it would stop teams from thinking that all they have to do to force us backwards/sidewards on every attack is to hold two deep lines of four.

Would make us a little more unpredictable for the other team and force them to commit some players to come out to try and block shots which in turn makes a bit more space.

spot on.
Force them to come and block or one of our lads will shoot on site.
Their team meeting must show our reluctance to take a 20 yard pop so they can sit back and rowd their box.

[Irishnev]

For me the best observation is...

Crosses
1) LFC - 534
15) Utd - 379
16) City - 361

This shows that citys approach play is more exact and less left to chance.
They have always been better at breaking down the low block by clever intricate passing their way around the meat heads.
We just bounce off them until we either go backwards and bounce off again or try a cross into empty space.

“Crossing” is an arbitrary measure - i actually thought the templated City goal was a “cross”. Wide forward getting to the bye line and cutting it back to incoming attacker. They did that 3 times vs us yesterday.

We used to get Robbo and Trent to the line and drive the ball back into the crowd and it caused chaos. Crossing from deep is where we are now which is ****ing pointless vs big grock defenders and our midget forwards

[baitman]

Deleted

[baitman]

“Crossing” is an arbitrary measure - i actually thought the templated City goal was a “cross”. Wide forward getting to the bye line and cutting it back to incoming attacker. They did that 3 times vs us yesterday.

We used to get Robbo and Trent to the line and drive the ball back into the crowd and it caused chaos. Crossing from deep is where we are now which is ****ing pointless vs big grock defenders and our midget forwards

If we break at pace (usually from a corner as the other end of the pitch is empty) and score an epic goal from a cross then the box is empty and the cross is direct to the path of the striker (salah).
If we are getting frustrated by the low block and trent passes into a crowded goal area then he could pass 100 times before we even get on the end of it.
A fast break and a cut back cross still wrks but only if its fast enough to stop teams getting back in numbers but our approach play is often to slow or stuttering.

[Irishnev]

If we break at pace (usually from a corner as the other end of the pitch is empty) and score an epic goal from a cross then the box is empty and the cross is direct to the path of the striker (salah).
If we are getting frustrated by the low block and trent passes into a crowded goal area then he could pass 100 times before we even get on the end of it.
A fast break and a cut back cross still wrks but only if its fast enough to stop teams getting back in numbers but our approach play is often to slow or stuttering.

City scored from 3 crosses yesterday - all similar......wide player beating an opponent 1v1 and a pull back to someone in the 6 yard box to tap home. I know Ali screwed up by gifting them the ball twice in good positions.

We used to do that all the time - when was the last time we scored a tap in.....we now are unable to get to the bye line so Robbo/Trent lump the ball into the box in hope. This crossing is pointless - likes Moyses United side......a clear indication that they’ve run out of ideas

[Exiled_red]

City scored from 3 crosses yesterday - all similar......wide player beating an opponent 1v1 and a pull back to someone in the 6 yard box to tap home. I know Ali screwed up by gifting them the ball twice in good positions.

We used to do that all the time - when was the last time we scored a tap in.....we now are unable to get to the bye line so Robbo/Trent lump the ball into the box in hope. This crossing is pointless - likes Moyses United side......a clear indication that they’ve run out of ideas

That's more of the crossing that we need to be doing rather than making our forwards fight in the air with 6' 3" CBs low crosses either picking out players or at least into dangerous areas between the keeper and the back line are hardest to defend and we rarely seem to do it anymore.