Ultimately, it was close to misses and hits for each groups, however Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis performed out an entertaining 1-1 draw on the lights below Anfield. Whereas each groups had the chance to take all three factors dwelling, none might be upset with the consequence. Arsenal, nevertheless, have been the most important gainers on the night time, with Mikel Arteta’s males on prime of the desk courtesy of a aim distinction.
Liverpool would positively be happier of the 2 sides, contemplating they have been taking part in with a much more weakened squad. With Trent Alexander Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, and Joel Matip unavailable and Mohamed Salah solely match sufficient for a substitute look, Jurgen Klopp’s males had their work lower out however went toe-to-toe with the defending champions.
So, what did the info say about the most effective and maybe essentially the most essential sport of the 20232-4 Premier League season?
Liverpool vs Manchester Metropolis stats
Despite the fact that Liverpool performed with a extra inexperienced squad, they have been the higher staff for many of the sport. Based on xValue, Liverpool’s xG was 2.3 in comparison with Manchester Metropolis’s 1.44. In addition they dominated within the Subject Tilt metric, with Liverpool holding 51.6 p.c of possession in Metropolis’s half. This was the one time a staff had managed to maintain extra off the ball than Metropolis in both of the 2 halves.
Liverpool additionally dominated Metropolis on different metrics, reminiscent of pressures initiated, with Darwin main the cost and executing 14 counter-pressing actions. Liverpool didn’t maintain again as they pressed Metropolis of their half. In truth, for the higher a part of the sport, Manchester Metropolis resorted to fast counter-attacks to take advantage of Liverpool’s excessive again line.
Liverpool vs. Man Metropolis
Most remaining third passes: Luis Diaz (16/19)
Most dribbles accomplished: Luis Diaz (4/6)
Most probabilities created: Luis Diaz (3)
Most massive probabilities missed: Luis Diaz (1)Might have been the match winner… 🥈🥈🥈 pic.twitter.com/iectrMI1vE
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 10, 2024
In truth, apart from the 15-Half-hour of the sport, Liverpool had essentially the most attacking menace. Metropolis have been pinned again to the wall, as will be seen of their defensive self-discipline stats. Liverpool’s equaliser got here after a horrendous again go from Nathan Ake, which left Ederson no possibility apart from to sort out Nunes and concede a penalty.
Ake misplaced the ball 12 instances, essentially the most by any participant on the staff. The dearth of ball additionally meant Metropolis needed to put in additional effort which is why they coated 117.1 kilometres within the video games in comparison with 116.8 kilometres by Liverpool.
2 – The staff that has scored first within the final eight Premier League conferences between Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis has solely gone on to win twice, whereas the Reds have recovered a league-high 23 factors from dropping positions within the competitors this time period. Truce. pic.twitter.com/o3TKXI6xHG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 10, 2024
The sport was additionally the primary time this season that Metropolis performed in fewer passes than their opponents (473-415) and performed half open-play passes than them (15-7). We have to remind ourselves that these stats got here towards a Liverpool aspect lacking a few of its key gamers.
Liverpool additionally made 32 touches in Metropolis’s field, whereas the guests solely managed 18. Liverpool’s defence additionally managed to do the very first thing on their checklist: maintain a sure Erling Haaland quiet. The Norwegian, who’s the league’s top-scorer, had an xG score of 0.09
Different makes an attempt by Metropolis have been additionally thwarted by sensible goalkeeping by Caoimhin Kelleher, who made 5 essential saves. His reverse quantity, Ederson, was changed by Stefan Ortega after being injured. Nonetheless, the German didn’t disappoint, making 4 saves in only one half.
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have been the principle threats regardless of the latter being vastly wasteful. Nunez managed a 0.16 score on the Anticipated Menace (xT) from passing, whereas Diaz had a 0.10 score from xT from dribbles.
Conclusion
From a impartial fan’s view, this was the right sport that lived as much as the massive expectations. As well as, this consequence additionally implies that the highest three groups within the league are separated by only one level. With Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal but to face one another, this offers us one of the intensely fought title races in Premier League historical past.
We now have already coated the ultimate run up of the three groups, and this consequence has added extra parameters to the permutations and mixtures that every one groups might be pondering. No matter occurs on Might 19, buckle up for an exhilarating end to the 2023-24 Premier League season.
