Key stats as Liverpool put Palace to the sword

Liverpool equalled their best win of the season and moved within one result of the Premier League title with a crushing 4-0 win over Crystal Palace at an empty Anfield. But what are the key stats from the best Liverpool performance in months?

The Fab Factor

This was some performance from Fabinho, who absolutely bossed the midfield, leading the way for this Liverpool win. His magnificent pass set away Salah for the game’s second goal, and his absolute worldie of a strike put the game to bed.

But this was one of Fab’s all-round best games for Liverpool. Doubling his Premier League goal and assist tallies for the season in 90 minutes, creating a big chance for the second time this season, on top of which Fab contributed six tackles, winning seven of his nine ground duels, winning two free-kicks, wasn’t dribbled past all night, and was the metronome at the heart of midfield with a 98% passing accuracy.

This was as good a statistical performance from a defensive midfield player as you’re likely to see this season, and it was as good a performance too.

One curious stat to finish this section on. Fabinho has four Premier League assists to his name now, and three of them have been to Mo Salah. Duo.

Zahaless and Rudderless Palace Offer Nothing

On paper, this is Liverpool’s best defensive performance of the season, although it’s hard to argue that it wasn’t also one of their easiest. When Wilfried Zaha limped off early on, Palace never looked a real threat after that.

Liverpool restricted them to 0.06 xG from just three shots. Zero shots on target, zero shots inside the box. Palace didn’t have a single corner, a single completed pass within twenty yards of goal, and they also have the ignominious record of being the first team since Opta started measuring in 2008 to not have a single touch in the opposition box.

Liverpool had 14 shots in the opposition box.

No Fans? No Problems

Liverpool had won every single game at Anfield in the Premier League this season – 15 wins out of 15, with 40 goals scored and 12 conceded. Liverpool’s winning run at Anfield stretched back 22 games to January of 2019, and the Reds had won 33 out of their last 35 home league games.

But all of those fixtures were in front of a packed crowd, and it was interesting to see how the Reds reacted to playing at home without fans. Needless to say they delivered, adding an extra win to each of those records, and putting on a show for those watching at home.

To emphasise how incredible Liverpool’s run of home form is, check out this stat: Liverpool would be one point off the Champions League places if only their home form counted. Extraordinary.