Rafa’s Liverpool has all-too often been branded as a team lacking in any kind of creativity or style, instead preferring to focus on tactical rigidity, grinding out marginal results and relying too heavily on two players to score goals.
However, a wealth of statistics from this year’s campaign go some way to dispelling this myth, with some figures threatening to debunk theories about other Premier League sides this year.
To start off, this year’s top scorers in all competitions have not been playing at the Emirates or Old Trafford. With 116 goals, English football cannot boast a team with a better record for hitting the net this season than the Reds of Anfield.
The combined talents of Wenger’s mercurial side have managed to score next best with 111, and Torres is taking Adebayor all the way to the wire for second place in the scoring charts.
Another accusation levelled at Liverpool is that they are too reliant on their primary goalscorers, namely Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
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However, just up the M62 there is a duo who contribute more to their team’s tally than this pairing. Of Manchester United’s 104 goals, 59 were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo or Carlos Tevez, comprising 56% of the total.
Liverpool’s twosome bagged 53 of 116, or 45%. So, it seems that this is another allegation without grounding, at least with regard to their Northwest neighbours.
Combine this with another stat published by the Liverpool Echo this week and the spread of goals throughout the team becomes clearer. With Ryan Babel’s belter at Stamford Bridge taking his season tally to 10, his name joins five others already in double figures for 07-08. Already Benayoun, Kuyt and Crouch had struck at least 10 goals this term, making Liverpool the only team in the land with such a sextet of scorers.
Chelsea are next nearest with four members of the 10-or-more club, giving rise to the notion that the Anfield outfit are much less reliant on the finishing abilities of Stevie and Fernando than some might have you believe.
It is true to say that Arsenal play the more attractive football, and Manchester United’s flying winger has brought more plaudits than the endeavours of his Scouse counterparts.
But Liverpool’s reputation as a boring side without a semblance of flair is unjustified.
The Reds will complete a second year without a trophy come May, but there can be little doubt that the margin in domestic football is closing. Last season, the points difference between Liverpool and the champions was 21. This year, it is 11.
If the gap continues to fall away at such a rate, a league title could be on its way to Anfield sooner than we think.
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8 months ago
Would be great to finally see a Liverpool title challenge. Would be good for English football too.
from 8 months ago
That's what I've been hoping for a long time - just seems every year is 'the year we're going to challenge'. Houllier almost did it, maybe Benitez can make the final push.
8 months ago
Good article Jonathan, showcasing many of the things that I have been arguing myself in recent months on Bleacher.
Sadly the majority of people do not find such things out for themselves, they simply listen to Andy Gray, Richard Keys and the like, and get all of their 'own opinions' direct from the mouths and words of others.
I am confident Liverpool will be closer next season again, how close? who knows, much will depend on the summer transfer activity but it would be nice to be within 6 points come the beginning of April 09, so there is at least hope of still winning the title in the last month of the season, something that hasn't happened since 1996 when we were in contention in the final month after the dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle, before winning only 2 of our last 5 games and finishing 11 behind in 3rd in the end.
All season people have been saying we are miles away from the title, while Everton are very close to Liverpool. Well here we are with one game left, 11 points off the title, and 11 points in front of Everton, so they can't both be true. We are either miles off the title, and miles in front of Everton, or we are close to the title, and Everton are close to us. It seems some people want to have their cake and eat it.
from 8 months ago
The team of 1996 deserved a title, maybe even the double, and it was a great shame for the players and fans that it wasn't achieved.
I think that one or two quality signings and Liverpool will be a major force next year (although how many times I've said this I don't know).
Perhaps a winger and a right back so Carra can concentrate fully on playing alongside either Skrtel or Agger (what a mouth watering CB trio that is).
Liverpool have lived too long in the domestic shadow of the other three. The last time we won the league United had it 7 times - this year they're closing in on 17. A bit too close to 18 for comfort!
from 8 months ago
Simon in all fairness...Liverpool were very rarely close to the title and Everton were right with you to the final month. Yes you have pulled away and cemented 4th place well done, but just because you are 11 points clear of Everton, doesn't mean you always were.
That is hardly 'people wanting to have their cake and eat it'.
Jonathan the team who wins the league always deserve it. Those teams who don't, don't deserve it is the way I see it.
from 8 months ago
fair point Andrew-maybe my rose tinted spectacles are betraying me slightly. I do still feel that the team of '96 had such quality and potential and to come away from that season without the league or FA Cup still smarts.
from 8 months ago
Andrew, I am well aware of how the season progressed. All that proves is how people are too judgemental too early (because they get 'their' opinions from tv pundits who over-analyse every result and statistic). Its where you finish that matters, not where you are half way through the season.
Many people are still claiming that Liverpool are 'miles away from the title'. while also claiming that they are closer to Everton than to the top. Those people are still having their cake and eating it.
I agree on the deserving the title point though, over 38 games the best team always wins, apart from very rare occasions where match-fixing or seriously dodgy refereeing are involved. The 1996 team were great to watch but were poor defensively, and that doesn't win titles.
8 months ago
Haha just like the Newcastle fans....
8 months ago
Nice article. Really enjoyed it. I do agree that Liverpool are becoming more and more powerful and entertaining, but I think maybe you are forgetting about the first half of the season when Pool were not playing the same way they are now.(the same can be said for United) I think Torres added a lot of entertainment and obviously goals.
Although as a United fan Id like to see us run away with the title every year, and only have Chelsea to contend with, another part of me would like to see a league where 4 or 5 teams are competing. Say, United, Chelsea, Pool and maybe one of the up and comers, Aston Villa or Everton. Then we would see real Champions.
from 8 months ago
Thanks Keith - wish I could forget about Liverpool's slack results earlier on!
A more competitive league can only be good for the English game as a whole - I'd love to see O'Neill's Villa really in the mix next year.
8 months ago
In all fairness, Liverpool on their day are not boring to watch. But more often than not, they are not "on their day". You scored 3 goals past Blackburn the other week but the game was still a bore to watch. So the amount of goals scored doesn't necessarily show how entertaining it was. On the other hand, Arsenal have won games 1-0 and played some real entertaining football. Point in case - last night's 1-0 win over Everton.
from 8 months ago
I don't know about Arsenal, but what you said in the first sentence about Liverpool's inconsistency summarizes my view. When it is their day they can beat anybody in the world, be they Arsenal, Chelsea or A.C Milan, and do it with class and loads of goals. But then for no apparent reason (i.e. injuries, team conflict) they can go a few games without winning against teams in the middle of the table, which should be sure wins if they are ever going to challenge for the title. I am not English, so I can't say I have preference or loyalty to any English team, however, over the years I have always liked Liverpool because they show character, committment, and (at times) passion to win that you'll never see with Man Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal. I think it is about time Liverpool won a title. Otherwise history would suggest they weren't as good as Man Utd and Chelsea, which in my opinion simply isnt the case.
8 months ago
i'm a man.utd supporter, but i would rather see liverpool do well in the league than do well in the champions league. i'm doing an article soon about where everyone will finish next season, and liverpool won't be as low as fourth.
8 months ago
At least liverpool fans don't stand outside anfield an chant stuff like your not fit to manage the club. that's newcastle fans, who still have this weird illusion hanging over them that they should be in the top four every season.
8 months ago
I think Liverpool, with another world class striker, a good goalscoring right-winger, and a little less rotation will start them towords making an impact in the league.
But then you have to remember, the rest of the top four are only getting stronger too.
8 months ago
I really enjoyed the article. I think the problem with Liverpool this season wasn't how many goals they scored but how many they didn't I would like to see the stats of how many shots on target each team has had and how many they have scored. Against Man City on Sunday there was a stage where Liverpool had 18 shots to 1 against.
8 months ago
hahaha
you've got to love statistics! on that margain you'll be able to calculate exactly when liverpool would be top of the league again.
x + y (2m - y) = NEVER AGAIN!
from 8 months ago
you suck
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