I was thinking about this last night and cobbled together some interesting statistics: It's interesting looking at goals conceded vs points dropped. We've conceded 38 goals in 21 games. Of those 21 games, 5 ended in a draw, costing us 5 x 2 = 10 points 5 have ended in defeat costing us 5 x 3 points = 15 So we've dropped 25 points in total ( this checks out - we're on 65 points from a possible 90) But on 11 occasions when we have conceded, we've gone on to win. Incidentally, we haven't been involved in a 0-0 all season. What this means is, our 38 goals conceded produces the following results: 18 of them didn't cost us a single point 10 of them (the 5 draws) cost us 5 x 2 = 10 points The other 10 resulted in a loss in 5 games, 5 x 3 = 15 points So there's that magic figure of 25 points dropped again. Thoughts?
its no worse than anyone else's par se if you say.. goals conceded in wins are not that crucial, its where we play and drop points in tighter games thats the issue. nobody would care right now if we won all 21 games we conceded in and frankly if we won them all we could concede 100 goals and not care. we are not that much worse than others as we set up to stretch play with both forwards looking to run behind so we develop gaps. Rodgers said v cardiff our defense played too deep. we want a higher line to close the gaps in other words. we must say that again swansea, cardiff, stoke = 9 goals on thier own that we conceeded while winning. If we want to play tight we can play tight. simple. Losing 3 to cardiff doesn't translate into we will lost 3 to utd at old trafford nor will it trnaslate into losing goals to city or cheslea... par se..... with other sides it can do but we play differently v say arsenal (5-1 at home) v cardiff (5-3 away)
Our defence is a wondrous thing. We all know that it's left exposed and that, pound for pound, it does not have the best players in the league. However, as has been pointed out above, it's shortcomings haven't really cost us dearly. We don't know how it works. Our opponents don't think it works but mostly get surprised. So whilst it is confusing itself, it is also confusing everybody-else - and long may it do so.
i think if utd left vidic as epxose or cheslea left terry as exposed... and the list goes on.. they'd be found out too. Its f'n hard to have both your full backs at least 10 yards up the pitch and playing what 30 yards apart at least with gerrard in between. its all about the transition phase. If lfc lose it in the opponents half then most of the time we are fine. if we are passing it about at the back and then lose it on the half way line then there are big gaps and its this pahse where we concede i feel. We can win it back off a side, try to play it not clear it, some guys go legging it to attack positions and suddenly joe allen passes it badly and they score.
Most goals conceded by PL champs is 44 when Manu won it in 96-97 with the lowest points total of 75. Think we could break that if we manage to win it but I increasing think we need to win all our games.
interesting point. We I think will have to get mid 80s min so yes we could let in another 6 no question and be the record but its a very different season isn't it.
Another interesting PL record is the total goal record both for an against currently standing at 147 and held by Swindon town 93-94. We are currently on 120.
So we need to average 3.375 goals per game for the reminder of the season. With our attack and defence, that is more than doable
The manner of how we concede goals is the biggest worry for me - far too many errors from experienced personnel.
Coooooooooorrrrr Stop Moaning! Like the banner says "Make Us Dream" and the team (all of them) are making us do just that. Not since 2009 have we been this excited this late in the season. Yes the tile is a long shot - but it's still possible. CL football next season is all but achieved. If it all goes right for us then we'll have the biggest party fro over 20years. If we fall short we'll celebrate a top 4 finish and a host of wonderful attacking football. We can start worrying about the preparations for next season when this one is finished
Interesting stats #2 We've conceded 1 goal in 9 games at a cost of only 5 points We've conceded 3 goals in 5 games at a cost of only 5 points We've conceded 2 goal in 7 games at a cost of 15 points It's worth repeating that second line - We've conceded 3 goals 5 times at a cost of only 5 points!!! The only points dropped when conceding 3 were 2 dropped in the 3-3 draw against Everton (Thanks Phil Dowd!) and 3 in the 3-1 defeat against Hull The other 3 times we ran out winners, 5-3 against Stoke, 4-3 against Fulham & 6-3 against Cardiff Likewise on the times we've only conceded 1 goal - 3 points dropped in the 1-0 against Southampton, and 2 against West Brom (Thank Kolo )
We've conceded 3 goals 5 times at a cost of only 5 points!!! That's nothing to brag about. It means the team is going games into needing to score lots of goals to win games and at the moment is managing to do it but it's not smart to rely on them forever. The defence has to step up at some point. However you dress the stats up, Liverpool's defence has been average at best this season and just because the rest of the team are covering that flaw up, it remains a flaw. It will certainly need addressing if Liverpool wan't to compete against the elite of Europe at the sharp end of the CL next season, as shown by the way City and Arsenal were put out with relative ease if truth be told.
Nobody is arguing that the demands of next season require us to address our defensive issue over the Summer. But for goodness sake lighten up! There is nothing we can do about the style of play and the personnel that we currently have - and it is working!! So just go along for the ride 'cause there ain't nothing else you or I can do about it.
