LAST season I wrote a piece on how Liverpool FC typically conceded their goals in the Barclays Premier League, concluding that a rather large percentage came from set pieces and crosses.
A year or so later the same problems appear to be there – at least that’s the impression at first glance.
Whether or not the types of goals conceded actually tells a story can only be decided by looking at the types of chances Liverpool’s opponents typically create. Or rather, the frequency of different types of chances.
However, for now I will only look at the types of goals conceded to see if the numbers add up to what many fans see when watching the games, and then compare it to the numbers from the article last season to see if we can spot a difference or if the trend continues. Granted the difference in number of games makes it slightly inaccurate, but we can use the goals per game ratio to get a better and more valid comparison.
After going through the games so far I came up with the following numbers. Some of the goals can probably be debated in terms of which column they belong under, but I will pinpoint the ones I think can be seen as dubious.
Goals conceded 2013/2014
Games played: 20
Goals conceded: 23
Goals per game: 1.15
Set pieces
| Type of goal | Number of goals | Explanation |
| Direct free kick | 0 | |
| Indirect free kick | 5 | Direct- and second ball finish |
| Corner | 3 | All three direct headers |
| Penalty | 1 | |
| Total | 9 |
Percentage: 39.13
Open play
| Type of goal | Number of goals | Explanation |
| Counter | 2 | |
| Shot outside box | 3* | |
| Shot inside box | 6 | After cross or build-up; direct and second ball finish |
| Header | 1 | |
| Own goal | 2 | Skrtel v West Ham and Hull |
| Personal error | 0** | Error leading directly to goal |
| Total | 14 |
Percentage: 60.87
* Here I have the goals from Cabaye, Ramsay and Hazard. We could also include the goals from Negredo and Livermore, but I have put those under ‘Counter’.
**Negredo’s goal could also be included here,but I think that was more a case of a number of mistakes. Arguably also Sunderland’s goal when Mignolet gave a slightly soft rebound, but I put that under ‘Shot inside box’. Debatable.
In the second table there are two own goals, against West Ham and away against Hull. The first one was after a cross, while the second was after a counter attack. In fact, all the goals against Hull were a bit weird: The first one is a counter attack ending up in a deflected long shot; the second is a bizarre situation where they have a free kick in the middle of the park, hoof it up and Liverpool fail to clear the box; and then the third was the own goal. I have classified those as counter attack, indirect free kick and own goal respectfully. The first one could also be classified as a long shot, but I think putting it down as a counter attack is more accurate.
Looking at the numbers we can see that out of the 23 league goals LFC have conceded so far this season, only nine of them – 39.1% – have come from set pieces. I say ‘only’ because the impression many get when watching the games and talking to fellow fans is that the vast majority of them come from set pieces.
However, in addition to the set piece goals there are five goals that have come as a result of crosses – which raises the number to 60.9%. Which doesn’t look very good, because it indicates a team that still have issues when it comes to clearing their lines and protect the penalty area. Remove the penalty though (as it’s a different type of set piece) and the number goes down to 56.5%, which shows how it can fluctuate at this stage of the season.
The reason why I’m putting these numbers together is that Liverpool’s main problem last season was a general inability to defend their own box, both from set pieces and open play, and that the trend seems to continue. Then again, we could also flip that number and suggest they are generally quite good at defending in central areas, which is also an impression you get when watching them play – particularly after the shift of shape in midfield.
Goals conceded 2012/2013
Games played: 29
Goals conceded: 36
Goals per game: 1.24
Set pieces
| Type of goal | Number of goals | Explanation |
| Direct free kick | 1 | |
| Indirect free kick | 3 | All three crossed into the box |
| Corner | 5 | Direct- and second ball finish included |
| Penalty | 3 | |
| Throw-in | 1 | Stoke, obviously |
| Total | 13 |
Percentage: 36.11
Open play
| Type of goal | Number of goals | Explanation |
| Counter | 5 | |
| Shot outside box | 1* | |
| Shot inside box | 10 | After cross or build-up; direct- and second ball finish |
| Header | 2 | |
| Own goal | 1 | |
| Personal error | 4 | Error leading directly to goal |
| Total | 23 |
Percentage: 63.89
Number of goals conceded from a cross (inside or outside the box) from open play: 10
Meaning that after 29 games last season, 26 out of the 36 goals Liverpool had then conceded – 72.22% – had come as a result of a set piece or a cross. Out of the 23 goals they had conceded from open play, 10 had come from a cross. That’s 43.48%.
So far this season the same numbers say 14 out of 23 – or 60.87%. Out of the 14 goals the team have conceded from open play, only five – 35.71% – have come from crosses into the box.
So, does this mean we can conclude anything? Probably still too early given how easily the numbers can fluctuate; but one thing worth noticing is that after the arrival of Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool seem less vulnerable on crosses into the box. Then we will see how everything adds up at the end of the season.
Great article. I also have been looking at why Liverpool had been conceding so many goals and not able to keep clean sheets. Is it the goalkeeper’s fault or the defenders in front of the goalkeeper ? Or is it wrong selection of players by BR.Liverpool time and time again gave away silly freekicks and unable to defend from set pieces.
Lucas consistently gives away needless free kicks
It’s just not since last year it’s been like this for a few years at the least. We are terrible in the air. Not only do we not win the headers as often as defenders should we are weak at it for example even against small players we struggle to clear the lines. How many times I’ve seen our header don’t clear the danger and usually ends up with the opposition.
We were defensively rock solid under Kenny. . So this is a Rodgers problem
So rock solid that we finished 8th!
Kevin ur mad Kenny who? Someone who wanted to make us a midtable team.Brendan haven’t got a clue about defending but Kenny was terrible.
Tino stop showing your stupidity . Check out our goals conceded under Dalglish…it was the 2nd best in the league. Kevin was spot on.
And saying that a legend like Dalglish ‘wanted’ to make us poor is both ignorant and disrespectful
Patrick it is u who forget u are stupid cos u watch lfc with sentiment and not facts.
Duh . Kop on kid . Under Dalglish in the league Liverpool had 3rd best defence – FACT. Including cups we had the best defense in the whole country – FACT
Stop being stupid , check facts before u talk rubbish
But we still conceded 46 out of 56 league goals in 2011-2012.It seems u are Dalglish cousin.
Are you really that stupid ? Yes 46 conceded in 56 games . Thats an impressive stat , one of the best in the whole country . I couldn’t give a fk about dalglish . Im just pointing out how stupid your comment was . Grow up.
Patrick u are a disappointment to lfc cos 46 goals as against 52 is midtable I made a mistake.If u are an lfc coach u will make us relegation battlers.
Do you realize how stupid u are tino ? Man u conceded 43 league goals last season and were CHAMPIONS . Dalglish conceded 40 . Do the math you fool.
Patrick u are a disappointment to lfc cos 46 goals as against 52 is midtable I made a mistake.If u are an lfc coach u will make us relegation battlers.Grow up stop watching and supporting Dalglish cos of hero statues.
Patrick u are a disappointment to lfc cos 46 goals as against 52 is midtable I made a mistake.If u are an lfc coach u will make us relegation battlers.Grow up stop watching lfcand supporting Dalglish cos of hero statues.
Tino you are retarded
The problem are: We have not got a steady back 4 that has played 6-10 games together week in week out
Second: G Johnson has been poor and diabolical since has come back from Injury, Cissokho is average at best. So we have two full backs who are both not very good defending winger or attacker 1 vs 1.
Third: In the summer: B Rodgers needs to bring in good class quality competition for GK, RB, LB, FD and Two class quality creative attacking minded centre midfielders to replace and take over from S Gerrard
As Mignolet has flapped in last few games and is becoming too complacent already, P Reina(31) only started being complacent after three years at club, Mignolet(25) has shocking kicking, he flaps at things , simple crosses and cost us 4 points against Man City and Chelsea
Fourth: Our weak midfield trio offer rarely any protection to back 4 and the amount of goals we are regualrly conceding proves that. The midfield lose the ball far to easy in dangerous positions, when they are all over the place and so many times we have been exposed by their mistakes like Today with C Adams Equalizer.
B Rodgers needs to strengthen our centre midfield and both wings this Transfer window: 60-70m
B Rodgers needs to spend 32M on two Centre midfielders:
A DM/ Enforcer with mobility bit of pace, physical size, strength, strong and tough in the tackle and covers the ground of pitch very well . ( Mascherano/Sissoko type player)
M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan Or Fernando(26) Of Porto, One of these players should be brought to club for 8-12M at all costs , so Lucas Leiva can rest on the bench as he is average at best and has had no real class quality competition for his place for over 3 years. That is why he looked so far much better than everybody else as his competition was so poor ( Poulsen and Spearing)
A CM with class, creativity and goals from open play from Centre Of Park: Y Cabaye(27) Of Newcastle Or I Rakitic(25) Of Seville, One of these players needs to be brought to club for 8-20M this month as Allen(24), Henderson(23) there is lack of class, creativity and goals from open play from centre of park, no matter how many games they play? The goals to games to Ratio is abyzmal to say the least
Two class creative Goalscoring wide men who can play on either wing with pace, speed, skill and good delivery: B Rodgers needs to spend 30M on a pair of class quality wingers
A RW / RWF: M Salah(21) Of Basel needs to be brought to club asap for 7-15M, to compete and cover Sterling. And his value may be 7-15M now but in 3 years time, it could be easily double that
A LW / LWF: B Arfa(26) Of Newcastle Or D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal, One of these pacey quick skillful left footed direct wingers needs to be brought to club for 6-15M
Get a life
Ozred, you twisted crack head get off here. When you know any thing about football come back to me
….that will be a NEVER then
Dis season lfc has had so many injury problem in all area. I think dat is d main reason they av been conceding much goal. Another reason is dat their is no strong competition for mignolet
No doubting that under Kenny Liverpool were a brilliant defensive unit . While under BR we are a brilliant attacking unit. Merge the two and we would dominate the world.
Cisdsokho is so baddddddd. He was the weakest link against stoke.
Agreed , why won’t Rodgers pick Kelly ? Terrible management
Kelly is still gaining his fitness. His injury was very serious
I suspect he doesn’t rate Kelly at left back, with Johnson not in his best form, doesn’t want him playing left either.
Yawn . The boring troll aaron is still trolling
Idiot
Liverpool have three defensive issues.
Centre backs – Constant injuries to Agger,Sahko and Toure has hampered stability in that area
Right back – Johnson has been woeful this season. I suspect Kelly may be given the green light soon
Left back – We need Flanagan and Enrique back.
Not many people last year and early part of this year would have missed Enrique. He has been missed and has highlighted our lack of depth with his absence.
Nobody cares what you say
Boring troll aaron
hahahaa 🙂
Those crosses should not be coming in to the box in the first place. With just a small adjustment, it can be fixed very quickly for the left-back and right back. Johnson and Enrique have never been good at preventing crosses into the box. Fix this up and the stats will look much better……thus producing better results.
The main problem for our defence is not Rogers. Its the following:
1, We’ve changed our Central Defensive partnership in nearly every game this year as a result of injury.
2, We’ve lost our best left back to injury
3, We’ve los our second best left back to injury
4, Johnson is playing as poorly as he’s played in years.
If the central defenders can have time to settle in, and create a partnership, they will be far better equipped to keep clean sheets.
If Johnson stops playing as if he’s stoned, he might actually offer some value again.
And if we can bring in a left back who can play or when we get Enrique back, we’re going pretty good.
Our second left back (cissokho) has not been injured. Flanagan is not a left back . Main center back pairing (skrtel agger) have had years to settle in. You are talking total b**ocks as usual . Get a clue before talking cr@p.