Liverpool this season have been inconsistent. That’s a pretty fair assessment of how the first season under Brendan Rodgers has gone, wouldn’t you say? We’ve had games where we’ve played superbly and torn sides apart and games where, well it’s been like something from a horror movie.
One thing that has stood out for Liverpool this year is the points that we’ve cost ourselves. The strange passes that have lead to conceding, concentration being lost by what must only be a shiny piece of foil in the crowd distracting our defenders and also, by merely trying to be too clever too close to our own goal. We’ve all noticed them, City both home and away being the two stand out games for these errors. I’m guessing you’re expecting me to start the next paragraph lamenting these errors?
Sorry to disappoint but no. In my opinion, it’s always better to beat yourself than be beaten by the opposition if you’re going to drop points. I’ll explain. If we are going to drop points, it’s better that it’s due to Liverpool errors as these can be resolved. If you have an error prone player, you can either help them to sort out the problem or drop them and potentially sell them. If you’re dropping points because the opposition are just that much stronger or better than you, then you have a bigger problem and one that isn’t resolved very easily.
My error analysis will be for the first 22 games, although we’ve now played 35 games. These initial 22 games are where much of the focus needs to be. After 22 games this season, Liverpool had made a total of 32 errors; 23 leading to shots and nine to goals. In these 22 games, Liverpool players averaged 1.45 errors a game that either lead to a shot or to a goal. 1.45 errors every game, essentially in those initial 22 games we gave our opposition a chance to score against us. Our errors contributed to 32% of the goals we had conceded and up to that point in the season, 38% of shots at our goal.
In these 22 games, errors were made against Manchester City (H), Arsenal (H), Norwich (A), Everton (A), Spurs (H), and Villa (H). Those who committed errors that cost points were Pepe Reina, Jose Enrique, Sebastian Cotes and Martin Skrtel – these errors cost Liverpool a total of six points. We cost ourselves two wins due to errors. If you look at the table now and add those six points on, it’s a very different picture with us only two points behind Spurs. Arguably, we’d be ahead if the legitimate goal vs. Everton was allowed, but that’s another story for somebody else.
In the first 22 games, our defensive partnership was Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. I’m going to presume that you’ve noticed where the change occurred? Jamie Carragher came in for Martin Skrtel and the number of errors has dropped. We dropped points through defensive errors again though, two in two. Jose Enrique and Pepe Reina errors against Arsenal and Manchester City respectively cost Liverpool four points. Games were we should have taken the maximum six points on offer, resulted in us only acquiring two points. Take a look at the league table and add ten more points on. Liverpool’s errors have cost ten points – add then on and we’d be well and truly within the Top Four battle.
Since Carragher has come back into the side, Liverpool have only cost themselves four points through errors and have improved defensively; since the Manchester City game (2-2), Liverpool have only conceded ten goals in the Premier League and have had five clean sheets. Pepe Reina looks to be back to somewhere near his best and Jose Enrique has established himself as the primary Left Back, do remember at one point; Downing was at left back and Enrique at left wing? Interesting.
I know many of you will have read these statistics and possibly be a lot more angry than you initially were with Liverpool but don’t be. It shows that it’s not that we’re not good enough, but that we’re beating ourselves or rather we were beating ourselves. The errors will be reduced as time goes on and also as Brendan gets the players in he wants and allows those he doesn’t want to leave. For me, it’s a sign of progress. If we cut these errors out and take the points that we should be from games then we’re in that Top four bracket and challenging for Europe’s Premier competition once again.
Don’t worry about people beating Liverpool. Worry about Liverpool beating Liverpool. There are signs of progress though and I’m sure that next season we won’t see some of the players who are guilty of errors either playing in Red shirts or, have anywhere near as many errors. This year was always going to a be a difficult year for Brendan but for me, I believe these statistics merely show just how much the team has progressed under him and how we were beating ourselves rather than not being good enough.
Next season will undoubtedly see some defenders leave the club and some coming in, Brendan will have identified those he is bringing in as the type of player he is after. Interestingly, Ashley Williams, who has been touted about as Liverpool transfer target, is also a villain when it comes to committing errors; costing Swansea three goals so far this campaign (four points). Although, that is not to be taken as an opinion that he isn’t good enough but more an observation. Something for you to ponder.
But as Brendan would say, sorting out the errors leading to goals and taking the points that we deserve…. well, it’s all just part of the dance.
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