Pressure

Barts is away but Darth hosts Hamzah and Si to review another 2 games for #LFC. The lads start by reviewing the Europa League win over Prague, discuss the UEFA draws and then the epic FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford. Part 1 - Sparta Lineups and Gameplans. Stronger than expected? Match summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Sparta providing so much opportunity - why? Bobby Clark, the LFC pressing production line continues The routine brilliance of Mo Salah - One of the greatest single match stats performances you will see - How rare is 0.5 XA p90 over 2700 minutes? - Does Salah's XA benefit from playing with a "proper 9"? Part 2 - UEFA draws - Atalanta reaction and thoughts - Champions League draw. What does this change for City, Arsenal and LFC? Part 3 - Man United Line ups and gameplans Match Summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots When will we have XG models that include deflections? Is this what the statistical profile of a footy match played like a basketball match looks like? Opening period tactial analysis. United on top - why? LFC regaining control - how? Do the 2nd half narratives stand up to scrutiny? LFC triple sub - a turning point? LFC defensive shortcomings - right-side focus How does 3-2 get turned into 3-4? Statspacks https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day---el-r16-leg-2/#player-analysis https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day---fa-cup-qf/#match-summary

Darth hosts Hamzah, Si and Dr Barts to review another 2 games for #LFC. The lads review the Europa League win in Prague and the titanic Premier League draw with Man City at Anfield. The lads start by reacting to the news that Michael Edwards has returned as Director of Football Operations Part 1 - Edwards Reaction Part 2 - Sparta Lineups and Gameplans. Stronger than expected? Match summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots The Nunez hot streak is here! Elliott breaking XA Kelleher praise part 4251 Konate injury diagnosis and prognosis Part 2 - Man City Line ups and gameplans Match Summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Opening period tactial analysis. City on top, KdB running riot. How did it happen? LFC tactical changes. Bradley and another way of making the midfield box 120km is back baby! Physical stats deep dive Darwin offside discussion VVD/Mac/Endo analysis and stats 2nd half dominance The Diaz trifecta of misses. Diaz v Mane discussion City subs and effect on the rest of the game Doku penalty incident rants Statspacks https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day---el-cup-r16-leg-1/ https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-28

Darth hosts Hamzah, Si and Dr Barts to review another 2 win for #LFC. The lads review the FA Cup win over Southampton and the late, late Premier League win at Forest. Part 1 - Southampton Joe Gomez in midfield. Tactical analysis and match stats Saints match summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Bobby Clark/Jayden Danns discussion Part 2 - Forest Line ups and gameplans Match Summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Opening period tactial analysis. especially midfield 3 blend This match as a case study for the seminal analytics blogpost, Team A has 20 low quality shots, Team B has 2 high quality shots, who is most likely to win? Did the subs make us better? Paul Tierney revisited Statspacks https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day---fa-cup-r5/ https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-27/#line-up

Darth hosts Hamzah, Si and Dr Barts to review a triumphant week for #LFC. On a mega pod the lads review the 2 wins over Luton and Chelsea as well as assess the current injury situation ahead of 6 games in 16 days before the international break Part 1 - Injury update * new injuries: Grav/Endo. Diagnosis and prognosis * current injuries: Tsimi back (yay). How best to manage Mo/Dom/Darwin from here * fatigue index war zone Part 2 - Luton Different players, different skillsets. How did we adapt to use them in our traditional 433? Luton match summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Luton 1st Half - Not as bad now as at the time? 2nd half comeback - changes to our approach? Intensity. Kloppo invokes the spirit of Barca! Pressing leading to shots/goals! Bradley/Elliott/Quansah praise Statspack: https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-26/ Part 3 - Chelsea Chelsea line up and gameplan Match Summary and key stats: Possession, XG, XT, Big Chances, Shots Opening period tactial analysis Mac/Endo - analysis of them as a pairing. very good vs Luton and again here 2nd half - disallowed goal, VVD dicusssion Chelsea take over Kelleher praise and stats Triple teenage sub: Danns/McConnell/Clark discussion Extra time: LFC takeover, Chelsea subdued. Fatigue/tactics? Winning goal Statspack: https://drbarts.quarto.pub/match-day-league-cup-final-2324/

Darth hosts Si, Hamzah and Dr Barts to review the big win at Brentford. After taking a whistlestop tour round ancient Greek history, the lads discuss: Alisson/Jota/Jones injury discussion and prognosis Nunez/Salah injury/fatigue discussion LFC v Arsenal starting analysis Lineups and gameplans Context of 2 very difficult previous trips to Brentford Key match stats: Possession, XG, XT, Shots, Big Chances Analysis of Brentford's unique challenge 34 minutes at 0-0, a close game? Opening goal. The analytics of Brentford's set piece gamble Brilliant Jota Pens/VAR discussion Brilliant Salah Kelleher praise. Mini Alisson?

On this episode Si is in the hosting seat and is joined by Hamzah & Phil to discuss and analyse to win over Burnley. As usual the trio discuss the game in a very statistical & analytical fashion.

Darth hosts Si, Hamzah and Dr Barts to review the big game at Arsenal. The lads discuss: Physical reasons for the performance * do we have an injury crisis? * cumulative cost of pursuing the quad * fatigue and Szobo's injury Tactical reasons for the performance * Gakpo over Nunez - what was the plan? * Trent wide and Gomez inverting - what was the plan? * Arsenal one step ahead tactically in all of the 4 phases - why * Arsenal's double 10 causing issues * Does the 45-58 period show the importance of tactics? and the benefits of simple tactical changes? Key match stats: Possession, XG, XT, Shots, Big Chances Opening period, Arsenal pressing without shots LFC blunt attack and terrible buildup Arsenal big chances and goal LFC steady the ship LFC triple sub, did it work? How did Arsenal see the game out? Why couldn't LFC get anything going?

On this episode for a second Under Pressure of the week Si is in the hosting seat and is joined by Phil & Hamzah to discuss the win over Chelsea! As usual they take a deep dive into the game with a discussion on various performances and factors from the game. 

On a monster pod, Darth is joined by Hamzah and Si to reflect on the Kloppo news, review the Fulham and Norwich games and Si gives a sports science tour de force. The lads spend 25 minutes discussing their immediate reactions to the Klopp bombshell as well as current states of mind. Darth then asks Si to outline our changes in strategy that have led to Konate and Gomez's excellent availability since the international break. Si follows up with a deep dive on the methods behind Fatigue Index, why capacity is not theoretical and just what is a soft tissue injury? Finally, the lads review the 2 games with a focus on 4 young players who've played a lot of minutes in January in the absence of some big LFC players: Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch.

Darth hosts Hamzah and Dr Barts to review the crucial 4-0 win at Bournemouth. The lads discuss: LFC lineups and gameplan. What was the idea behind Nunez-Jota-Diaz in the first half? Salah injury discussion Key match stats: Possession, XG, XT, Shots, Big Chances Analysing reasons for first half lack of shots Praising the LFC heavy metal Alexis MacAllister analysis. Best possession control by a midfielder in 3 years! Ibou's evolution. VVD the junior partner! Connor Bradley love-in part deux Second half fun. Klopp winning the tactics again Diogo Jota deep-dive Darwin Nunez praise