Liverpool exploded into life with a thumping 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade, a result which takes them top of their Champions League group. But what were the key stats from an exciting night at Anfield?
Fabinho Starts – And Shines
It was an exciting moment for Liverpool fans to see Fabinho on the team sheet before the game kicked off, and that excitement never let up as he delivered an absolute masterclass in the middle of the park. Fab won nine tackles (NINE) out of twelve, won all six of his aerial duels and added an interception and a clearance. His total number was 18 out of 24 duels, which is just a bit staggering really. To add some context Liverpool’s highest duel wins per game in the PL this season is Lovren on 7.0.
And on the ball it was a similar story. He had 96 touches and 80 passes, with Liverpool’s highest passing accuracy (90%). But what he did with the ball was equally important, creating two chances, had the joint most passes in the final third (20), passing progressively throughout with as the stat below shows, and also won three free-kicks for his team.
In the time Fab has been on the pitch for Liverpoool this season, he passes the ball to one of our forwards with 31% of his passes
Hendo and Wijnaldum 12.6 and 12.9%— SimonBrundish (@SimonBrundish) October 24, 2018
Unquestionably Liverpool’s man of the match and an absolutely dominant display from Liverpool’s newest central-midfielder.
Salah and Sadio Back In The Goals As Attack Starts To Fire
Liverpool turned in their best-attacking display of the season as they pulverised Red Star, and Salah and Sadio were back in the thick of it. The pair had seven of Liverpool’s six big chances, including two penalties. Sadio was involved the most, on the end of three of them, whilst also creating three chances himself. Overall, Liverpool’s xG was the highest it’s been all season (4.5) and this was easily their best-attacking performance, even outshining the win of the same scoreline on the opening day against West Ham.
And as for Salah, well I’m going to repeat the most overstated stat of the night – that he’s now scored 50 goals for Liverpool in just 65 games, notching 15 assists too. Salah averages a goal just over every 100 minutes (getting the exact numbers is difficult given different sources have different numbers but it’s around 101/102 depending on your exact minutes figure). And of course, he’s the fastest to 50 goals for LFC, as the fun stat below outlines. In terms of minutes, he’s over 1000 minutes ahead of his closest competitor – Daniel Sturridge.
Fastest to 50 goals for @LFC:- MO SALAH 65 games, Albert Stubbins 77, Roger Hunt 79, George Allan 81, Jack Parkinson 81, Sam Raybould 81, Fernando Torres 84.
— Ged Rea (@ged0407) October 24, 2018
Klopp Loves An Anfield European Night
Liverpool at Anfield in Europe under Jürgen Klopp – Played 15; Won 12; Drawn 3; Lost 0. In the process, the Reds have scored a staggering 44 goals, conceding just 13 – a goal difference of 31. The only knockout game that the Reds have failed to win at home under Klopp is the 0-0 draw with Porto, following a 5-0 rout in the first leg. With eight clean sheets and the Reds scoring at least three goals on nine occasions, it’s fair to say that Klopp is living up to the phrase – magical European night at Anfield.
