Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 23.
Liverpool
The quality of Liverpool’s off-the-ball work in 2022/23 has suffered an alarming and dramatic drop-off in standards.
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During last season’s title challenge, they were defensively outstanding, conceding only 26 goals.
With 18 matches of the current campaign left to play, Liverpool have already shipped two more goals than in the entirety of the previous season, ahead of Monday's Merseyside derby meeting with Everton.
There has been nothing unlucky about this downturn either.
All this season’s key defensive stats, suggest Liverpool are fortunate not to have leaked even more goals by this stage.
Their Expected Goals Against (xGA) is actually 1.8 above the 28 goals they have let in.
LIV defensive comparison 21/22 & 22/23
| 21/22 | Rank | 22/23 | Rank | |
| Matches | 38 | - | 20 | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals conceded | 26 | 1st | 28 | 7th |
| xGA | 27.4 | 2nd | 29.8 | 12th |
| xGoT conceded | 34.2 | 3rd | 34.2 | 18th |
| Saves | 82 | 2nd | 68 | 15th |
In addition to these numbers, Opta has also calculated that Liverpool's Expected Goals on Target prevented (xGOT conceded), that is how many goals they should have let in based on the shots made, is 34.2, or 6.2 higher than the actual total they did concede.
Klopp also has the agility of his goalkeeper Alisson to thank.
Opta has calculated that, not taking into account own goals and penalties, the Brazilian is likely to have prevented an additional 7.2 goals being scored against Liverpool this season, the second-best rank among Premier League goalkeepers.
Alisson's save v Southampton
A stunning @Alissonbecker stop against Southampton has been nominated for the Premier League Save of the Month for November and December. 🧤
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 5, 2023
Most goals prevented 2022/23
| Player | Goals prevented |
|---|---|
| Kepa Arrizabalaga (CHE) | 8.1 |
| Alisson (LIV) | 7.2 |
| Bernd Leno (FUL) | 6.3 |
| Nick Pope (NEW) | 3.5 |
| Neto (BOU) | 3.0 |
Caught in possession
Ahead of the Merseyside derby, new Everton manager Sean Dyche will be encouraged by Liverpool’s vulnerability to pressing inside the middle third.
Last weekend, his midfield trio of Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye were insatiable in their appetite to pressure Arsenal’s midfielders.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have let in goals that began with midfield turnovers in three of their last four Premier League matches. Last time out, Joe Gomez lost the ball in midfield to allow Wolverhampton Wanderers to score from a breakaway transition.
They were also caught in possession inside their own half at Brighton & Hove Albion, with left-back Andy Robertson stranded way ahead of the ball, leaving Solly March to score at the far post.
Midfield struggles
In their recent 3-1 loss at Brentford, a similar scenario unfolded when Naby Keita was dispossessed in midfield, with the left-back in a position where he could not cover his centre-back. One long ball over Ibrahima Konate forced an error that ended with a Bryan Mbeumo goal.
If Dominic Calvert-Lewin recovers from injury, his pace and power could present Liverpool’s central defenders with similar problems, should they present opportunities to play long passes in behind.
The high positioning of Liverpool’s full-backs can leave the centre-backs exposed.
Individual errors
One of the most frustrating aspects for Klopp has been the number of individual errors his defensive players have made.
The most common problem has been hesitancy at key moments. At least 13 of Liverpool’s 28 concessions have featured at least one player standing off an opponent or reacting too slowly to make an intervention.
In last weekend’s defeat at Wolves for example, Joel Matip hesitated when closing down Hwang Hee-chan and scored an own goal.
At Brentford, Yoane Wissa was allowed to control a far-post corner under no pressure before firing in.
Back in October, Crysencio Summerville’s late winner at Anfield was a passage of play littered with defensive indecision.
Out wide, two players failed to get tight enough for Wilfried Gnonto to cross and, inside the box, Virgil van Dijk stood off Patrick Bamford and Summerville before the ball found the back of the net.
If Everton play fast, direct football that will ask questions of Liverpool’s defenders inside the penalty area and they could force more errors.
Liverpool will need to be much improved if they are are to get a result against an Everton side who travel to Anfield with renewed confidence.
Also in this series
Part 1: What's behind Haaland's drop in goals?
Part 2: Rice to tackle Fernandez in defining duel
