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The surprising ‘fact’ of Liverpool’s season

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LFC scoreCOMPARISON. It is in the very fabric of football to compare things. How does one player compare to another? How does one team compare to another? And how does one season compare to another?

In fact, competition is always about comparison. When teams measure themselves against each other the result provides the answer as to which team is superior. The rest in between is a mixture of conjecture and analysis. So 12 months on I wondered how we compared to last season.

After reading a highly enjoyable statistic that we have had 39 points after 27 games for the last 3 seasons, I decided to do my own examination as to how we measure against last season’s performance.

I am not as keen on the ‘after this many games we had this many points last season’ as a valid form of analysis. It’s all well and good having the same number of points but if the remaining fixtures are Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton away, well the current points tally doesn’t really make a genuine comparison.

So I have looked at the like for like results for LFC this season against the same opposition last season and there are some very interesting results. Of course, I have had to manipulate the results slightly as the same teams don’t compete in the Premier League every year. So, I have swapped the bottom 3 from last season with the newly promoted sides.

Season 2012/2013

Season 2011/2012

Team Home Away Team Home Away
Arsenal 0:2 2:2 Arsenal 1:2 0:2
Aston Villa 1:3 Aston Villa 1:1 0:2
Chelsea 1:1 Chelsea 4:1 1:2
Everton 2:2 Everton 3:0 0:2
Fulham 4:0 Fulham 0:1 1:0
Man City 2:2 2:2 Man City 1:1 3:0
Man Utd 1:2 2:1 Man Utd 1:1 2:1
Newcastle 1:1 Newcastle 3:1 2:0
Norwich 5:0 2:5 Norwich 1:1 0:3
QPR 0:3 QPR 1:0 3:2
Reading 1:0 Bolton 3:1 3:1
Southampton 1:0 Blackburn 1:1 2:3
Stoke 0:0 3:1 Stoke 0:0 1:0
Sunderland 3:0 1:1 Sunderland 1:1 1:0
Swansea 5:0 0:0 Swansea 0:0 1:0
Tottenham 2:1 Tottenham 0:0 4:0
WBA 0:2 3:0 WBA 0:1 0:2
West Ham 2:3 Wolves 2:1 0:0
Wigan 3:0 Wigan 1:2 0:3
 –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –
Goals scored 27 22 49 14 14 28
Goals conceded 12 22 34 14 16 30
Points taken 24 15 39 14 16 30

Reading, as Champions of the Championship (yes, that does sound ridiculous!) have switched places with Bolton, Southampton replace Blackburn’s results and West Ham take the place of Wolves.
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It is fair to say that by looking at the same 27 matches from last season and comparing them to this season there is a startling result. Liverpool have amassed 9 more points against the same opposition this season than they did last season. In the 27 games last season Liverpool took 30 points compared to the 39 points Liverpool have taken this season. Interestingly, we have secured 14 points at home and 16 points away against the teams we have played this season. This season has seen us almost equal the away performance with 15 points being harvested; which means that 10 additional points have been plundered at home.

It was acknowledged last season that home form had not been good enough and Brendan Rodgers has clearly wasted no time in addressing that problem so far this season.

Liverpool’s defence has appeared to be a problem this time round and indeed Rodgers’ charges have conceded 4 more goals against the same opposition. However, that is counteracted by the staggering 21 more goals Liverpool have managed this season in the same fixtures. Given how much fans have pined for extra firepower this season (until Sturridge arrived) that fact is truly remarkable.

The improvement across these games means that Rodgers’ reds have amassed an extra 0.33 points per game in these fixtures. If the same improvement holds out until the end of the season Liverpool will finish with 64-65 points some 12 or 13 points improvement on last season’s performance. So while our final league position could well be very similar to last seasons, our points haul would actually be much closer to Champions League standard.

If Liverpool repeat their results of last season, then they will finish with 61 points. While this is hardly a ground breaking haul, it is an improvement nonetheless.

So while it may well seem that the team is performing at a similar level to last season, it must be said that Rodger’s has actually brought an improvement to results, especially given we have already scored more goals than we managed in all of last season.

Rodgers may have his work cut out to convince fans that he’s the right man for the job but if he can make another improvement in results next season, he could well silence some detractors.
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147 comments

  • Begby says:

    Not another year of Rodgers pleeeeese . He is making us worse

  • Neil W. says:

    Mid table and not even a decent cup run or not having won against any good sides = absolute failure

    • richh81 says:

      Is that what your mum said about you i wonder? Maybe thats why you & others in your boat have got it in for rodgers, nevermind eh boys, maybe when you grow a pair you’ll find someone (boy or girl) who’ll give you a chance………but i doubt it!

  • bob says:

    wow, no matter how badly rodgers does , there are still people out there supporting him . what more can he do ? blow up anfield ? or assassinate stevie ?

    rodgers is a class A cabbage, signings are dreadful , tactics are naive, team select and subs are awful , there really is nothing much good at all to say about him

    its not like he is a ex- red hero like hyypia or fowler , he is a arrogant egotistical waffler ,full of himself … and doesnt know or understand liverpool fans . he spends more time making excuses and praising his players after average performances .. and he is a rubbish manager

    blind faith then ? or delusion ? or stupidity ? either way those fans need to wake up and smell reality

  • Anto says:

    Facts are Liverpool have had a mare of a season . Fact is Rodgers is a championship manager at best . Fact is Rodgers deserves the boooot

  • Marco says:

    We are behind west brom in february . West brom !!!! . How low can bungling Brenda sink us ?

  • Jack, london says:

    Out of his depth . More BR = more mediocrity . Time to move on with a proper manager

  • Simon says:

    Reading people’s comments on here dis-heartens me as a Liverpool supporter.

    Why are you so quick to judge? People expecting miracles are the exact supporters that other teams supporters make fun of. “We will win the league next season”

    There has been a rot at our club for a long time! Buying over rated over priced over payed players trying to achieve instant successs. A changes was needed, a different approach. This different approach takes time. Give the man three seasons, even if he doesn’t achive anything at least we won’t be left with an over aged over payed squad like we have had for the last 10 years.

    Face facts people we cannot compete financially with man utd, city, Chelsea, arsenal. So like it or lump it this is the approach we have to take.

    • Ian says:

      Nobody is expecting instant success . Everyone knows we are a mile away even from top 4. I think u have got it wrong . I don’t think we are quick to judge. . I think Rodgers has had plenty of time . All we want is a decent manager that will at least give us a chance of moving forward . If you understood football Simon u would know that Rodgers is not capable . So why waste more time ?

      • Simon says:

        So you reckon a season is enough time? Haha we will end up like Chelsea but without the money.

        With your understand football comment which I will take as a veiled insult, as a former season ticket holder (only stopped because i moved abroad)i have to say when we have played well this season it’s some of the most attractive football I have seen us play in years, nye on a decade.

        He needs at-least one more season before we cast the first stone.

        If we finish 6th this season that will be a realistic improvement. Anyone who thought top 4 at the start of the season obviously likes there red tops.

        • kirbyking says:

          Get your eyes tested simon , ‘ most attractive football ‘ LOL , maybe it looks good on highlights .

          We shouldn’t give rubbish manager 1 more week ,let alone a year

    • Terry Mac says:

      3 Seasons of mid table mediocrity ? are you mad ? are you bluenose in disguise ? Behave

      • Simon says:

        Actually a season ticket holder at anfield until I moved to Sweden. If you actually look at the business model of our club, I think you will find a manager of Brendan Rodgers type was needed because he would work with less transfer funds and a cut wage bill. Can’t see many top European managers snatching your hand off for the anfield job to be told oh yeah by the way you have to knock a quarter of your wage bill.

        It’s a case of needs must. For all you know I might hate Rodgers or I may love him but what I will tell you is I’ve come to terms with where are clubs is at the moment many have you haven’t! Deluded?

        • mesmeric says:

          You have come to terms with being mediocre with a mediocre manager ?

          Rather than showing discontent and helping remove the manager and improve us . You will be a sheep and follow blindly . Well done

  • JD says:

    Ok reading comments on here for arguments against and for Rodgers…quite frankly nobody is right, however I don’t think anyone has the right to say somebody isn’t a supporter, or a so called fan….and this is evident in the passion that either side is displaying in this small debate. I will just add in a variable that is beyond our, Rodgers and the teams control, that I don’t think anyone has picked up on…the qualitly of the the “lower/mid table” teams has insanely improved over the last 4/5 years. Present is no longer a time of a set top 4, present is no longer a guarentee of where we or any team will end up. Rodgers has done ok, granted I would v much like to be in top four, but I enjoy watching us play, I see potential. He bought two quality players in January, if you disagree I will let them prove u wrong…Sturridge we can agree has been a success so far. I personally look forward to the remainder of the season and next season with the way we are playing.

    • TaintlessRed says:

      I agree that no one should be saying someone is not a ‘real’ fan if they hold a different opinion, however much they disagree with that opinion. Also there can be no excuse for insulting people for holding different views – that’s tantamount to bullying and shows the immaturity of the insulter rather than the incorrectness of the insulted.
      Personally, I’ll wait till end of season to draw draw proper comparisons on Rodgers. I’ve been dissapointed in is decision making too often this season but ant deny that this article made interesting reading. The real question is whether a better, more experienced top class manager would have done better than Rodgers – personally I think the answer is yes.

  • Ian says:

    Inept and out of his depth . They are the best words to describe Rodgers tenure . I’m sure we will finish strongly with the class players we have . However Rodgers has shown again and again how tactically useless he is against the good teams so… Next season will be much thessame as this one . Why waste another year ? Sack him now

    • PaulLFC says:

      Personally , i would wait until the end of the season before sacking him . But we should be trying to get Mourinho before then

  • nabin_path says:

    There is still 11 games to be played and by the way in 2014 calender year liveepool is the top 4 team in 91 club to score so calm down guys there is always a consiqences in appointing new managers where players will get suffered so give him 11 more games and lets see where we are then the discussion can be done….

    • Terry Mac says:

      Yes but Rodgers said ” judge us with 2 months to go til end of season ” and well …. he has failed

      anyway , even if we have a good end to the season , it is still a disasterous awful season

  • byrnesey says:

    Alot of muppets on here,get behind the manager and the team you lot are a disgrace.
    He inherited a very week squad and had very little funds to work with.
    Lets see who he signs in the summer and give him another season to get it right.
    We have to be realistic a manager needs at least a season to assess his team and get the right players in for the next season,
    The owners need to back him and forget there youth policy because we have enough quality young players already what we are lacking is experience and steel.

  • David Tobin says:

    People stil want Rodgers to stay ???

    Is one season of being a struggling average club not enough ???

  • Istanbul says:

    While I see a lot of anger…I see fans comments…good to see that. I am a life long Liverpool fan. Watch every game at very odd times every week.
    I think the last three (last four counting Rafa’s last year) managers have had the same problems: (1) none can seem to set-up a team over a season to be among top-4 (Champions League) contenders, (2) losing against ‘lower/lesser’ teams on a recurring basis, (3) not finding the right ‘ingredient’ to build a settled team and (4) quasi-impossiblity to look like we can win one-nil matches on a recurrent basis with ease (this usually pis**s opposing team managers when they have to set-up their teams).
    In a league that is rather difficult to win, unless you have a lot (a really huge lot) of money, having a renowned European manager helps to achieve the top-4 goal. Liverpool should never have been the club where Rodgers/or any manager is recruited with no top, proven and recent European capability. Liverpool should not be the club where a manager learns his trade (can be a backroom staff) but not the gaffer!
    BTW I do not believe that with all the technology and information available that a manager needs more than 3 months to know the players at his disposal.

  • The k in know says:

    All of the “Rodgers Out” brigade are deluded! If you really think the owners will sack BR after one season you are even more deluded than I first thought. BR inherited half a squad of average football players and yet BR has completely changed the unattractive, defence minded, one dimensional way LFC plays football and in some cases improved these average players! OK so we won a trophy (some might say the mickey mouse) last season the FACT is we didn’t play great football doing it! And let’s be honest we were terrible in the league and the way we played at home was crap to say the least.The owners have brought in BR as part of a long term project, as the article states above we have improved on last season and I believe with a few key additions (and maybe sales)this summer we will continue to improve next season. Although we all would have loved to qualify for CL this season a more realistic target was 6th place in the league (although I would love us to be competing for the title every year) and this target is still achievable. Yes, a couple of BR signings haven’t been great but in some cases have been necessary to help develop the style in which we are now starting to play. As fans of the greatest team around we have to back our manager and our team, if you decide not to do this when we lose or get knocked out of a competition then you are not a true supporter and that is a FACT! YNWA

    • Stephen says:

      More delusion from a Rodgers fanboy .BR inherited an excellent squad but has being turning it average himself with his inadequate purchases .

      Anybody who thinks we have improved this season is seriously lacking in intelligence and football knowledge

    • Snake Plissken says:

      Why would ‘true supporters’ sit back and accept this absolute shambles? Real fans have passion and indignance at failure, its the lukewarm weak fans like you who accept mediocrity. Grow a pair.

    • kirbyking says:

      ‘We were terrible in the league ‘ – your words K . We must be terrible this season too because we have exactly same points as last season at this stage

      .so , if we are ‘terrible’ THIS season , why keep a manager who in your own words has been terrible ????

  • Stephen says:

    The Rodgers fanboys have nothing to defend him with , all they do is make excuses
    – but he needs more time
    – patience
    – making up ridiculous irrelevant stats to try ( but failing ) and show imaginary progress
    – but he needs more time
    – but he needs even more time
    – more time

    Rodgers fanboys are delusional . I have read posts recently like
    – we are making progress , next season top 4
    – we will dominate europe for years to come ( really i have)
    – we will win the league soon with Rodgers

    Its just blind faith and delusion . Rodgers has failed so far and doesn’t have the ability or the experience to turn it around .

    It was a massive error by FSG appointing him , an error that MUST be rectified in the summer

    • The k in know says:

      Support your team and manager or you’re not a true fan! simples…

      Who would you bring in (that’s if you could even convince them) this summer to replace BR that would instantly bring success and CL football to Anfield?

      Who can asses a team and be able to single out one or two players who would improve it instantly? Sure you would have an idea but without working with the group and seeing them play in a competitive environment really you’re only guessing! After half a season BR has got the team playing somewhere near the style he wants them to and as a fan the way I want us to play, has also had time to asses the group and been able to see what/who needs to be sold be brought in to improve us. In January BR brought in two players who have both improved us as a team and I for one thinks Sturridge has arguably been the best January transfer window signing! As most mangers say it’s very difficult to do good business in the January window I’m sure BR and the team have actively found who they are bringing in this summer and who needs to be moved on. Give the team time!!!

      If you change a manger every year no top manager will want to join us! (look at Chelski!!)

      • kirbyking says:

        supporting a clueless manager IS NOT helping your club … simples

        look at Chelsea yes , champions league winners , and ten times MORE trophies than us in the last 7 years

        A true supporter would want a good manager , only a ManU or Blue would want Rodgers staying

      • stevieG says:

        Chelsea are having a great time !!! … what you on about ? We improved dramatically when we changed Hodgson .

        Your not talking sense ‘the k in the dont know ‘

    • Janus says:

      Accurate description Steven

  • redrum says:

    Its madness to persist with a inexperienced unproven manager , who has given us our worst season in over 50 years … MADNESS

    Rodgers is statistically our worst manager , and signs of progress are only in certain people’s little minds

  • Chips says:

    Whatever the case is, whether he has failed or not, we need to give him a bit more time for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you need stability in the team. You wouldn’t like Liverpool to hire and fire coaches like Chelsea does. Where we find ourselves, position wise, will also determine the caliber of players and coaches we attract. Secondly, we can’t all of a sudden find ourselves at the top having gone so low. There need to be patient. Lets give both players and coaches time to develop a system. Another season wouldn’t be too much to ask for. Only then can we make better decisions in trying to improve the team.

    • kirbyking says:

      Didnt do Chelsea any harm last season .. what did they win ? … oh yes , champions league

      Are you a ManU fan that you want Liverpool to keep Rodgers ?

  • benitez says:

    Sorry for overachieving and giving you all regular champions league football. I should have just targeted 8th and pass the ball more.

  • NoxzY says:

    Guys, pls give BR a chance. Remember Jurgen Klopps’ first season incharge of Dortmund?

    • kirbyking says:

      What the f**k has that got to do with LFC ????

      I could name 500 manager who did rubbish in their 1st year like Rodgers …. ans continued to do rubbish in their 2nd

      Get a grip

  • olinn says:

    I’m .. really shocked of some of the comments here.

    I was sad to see Kenny go like most, his last season was tainted and hampered by the Suarez/Evra incident and probably was cause for much of the utter failure it was.

    However you can’t just shoot Rodgers down having been manager for what.. 6 months?

    He inherited a squad that was in shambles, players with low confidence and a squad that has been changing their playing style 4 times in 4 years.

    Yes, his summer signings have not worked out as well as one would have hoped, but we can’t really judge those players yet.. Borini hasn’t had the best of luck with staying fit, Assaidi is also recovering from injuries and well Allen might just be adapting to playing for a bigger club.

    Or have you forgotten how many of our players vanished into the abyss of mediocrity last season? Henderson never really got into gear, Downing was a ghost of himself and Enrique had turned into utter shite.

    And what happens under Rodgers? All of those 3 players have been giving performances miles above what we had seen before from them, and Henderson is no doubt going to be a pillar of our future team. And Gerrard? Playing his best for probably about 4 years.

    The team has been shaky, our defence has been been making insanely high amounts of mistakes, Agger and Skrtel (and even Carragher) have been making so many mistakes that have been losing games for us, and Reina .. well he hasn’t been a top class keeper for about 2 years now. Probably most of our signings next summer will be bolstering the defence, and and a new keeper.

    We are on the other hand playing football that is so spectacularly fun to watch at times that I can only feel that we are making progress, even though there are set backs inbetween.

    Btw.. M.City finished 10th 2008-2009 with a squad that was probably better than ours today, and finished 5th 2009-2010 after having spent probably 200m+ in the summer window.

    Focusing on the league and putting the cups on the backburner is the right focus. Nobody gives a * about the Carling cup, Liverpool got 50,000 pounds for winning the final match.

    Placing higher in the league brings in more money that winning both the carling cup and FA.

    • Ian says:

      …. Stop making excuses for under performing . It’s not the Liverpool way

      • olinn says:

        Is it the Liverpool way to switch managers every season? What exactly is the Liverpool way? Get with the times.

        Atleast Rodgers embraces the past and honors the club as much as he can, we’re still rebuilding, I mean can you honestly say that besides Everton and WBA, all the teams above us have a squad ranging from somewhat to spectacularly better than ours?

        We’ve been making steady progress this whole season, raising our PPG with every month, meanwhile the previous what.. 3 seasons where we have started ok and then crashed spectacularly in the end.

        So stuff it you haters, I’ve had enough of repetitive changing of managers, in a few games this season I’ve seen Liverpool play like we did back in 2008-2009, and that hasn’t happened for the last 4 years.

        • mesmeric says:

          How delusional are you ?
          Insane I would day .
          Worst season in 56 years and this hobo sees progress ?

          Ian is right . The Liverpool way is not to whine and bleat excuses. It’s to win

    • stevieG says:

      delusion olinn , delusion

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