are comfortably first within the , sitting 13 factors clear, and look set to win their first league title in 5 years.
Since profitable the Premier League in 2019-20, Liverpool have needed to watch on as fierce rivals have dominated the highest flight. Up to now two seasons, have been Man Metropolis’s closest challengers, not Liverpool.
However why are Liverpool thus far forward of everybody else? What has new supervisor Arne Slot doe that has labored so effectively, and so quick? Let’s let the numbers inform the story.
The perfect participant
It could be unfair to begin anyplace else than Mo Salah, far and away one of the best participant within the Premier League this season. The Egyptian has had a hand – or foot – in 64% of Liverpool’s objectives this season (25 objectives + 17 assists), by far one of the best mark within the league. ‘s Alexander Isak is the one different participant above 50% on this stat.
On tempo to turn into solely the second ever footballer in Premier League historical past to document 20+ objectives and assists after Thierry Henry, Salah has been doing every part and extra to make sure that the Reds elevate the trophy as soon as once more.
Quite a bit is talked about Salah’s supposedly low Anticipated Assists tally (6.8), however not sufficient is talked about his huge likelihood creating. The Egyptian has created 21 huge probabilities within the Premier League this season, with solely Barcelona’s Raphinha (21) created extra throughout Europe’s prime 10 leagues.
Salah’s putting expertise have additionally been excellent. Out of the 51 gamers to have recorded an Anticipated Targets whole of 10 or extra within the top-10 leagues thus far, Salah ranks sixth in effectivity (88th percentile). He overperforms his expectations by 4.8 objectives. And extra importantly, he’s scored 25 instances, greater than anybody on this group.
Leaning into their strengths
Slot arrived in Liverpool simply seven months in the past, however seems to have rapidly understood the place his greatest probabilities to succeed on the pitch lie. The Dutchman put his three greatest shot-creating threats on the suitable facet of the pitch (Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold) and let the remaining handle itself.
Dividing the pitch vertically in three, 36% of the Reds’ probabilities within the Premier League thus far have come from the suitable facet, and 35% from central – the place those self same three gamers additionally function every so often. The left facet with a declining Andrew Robertson has been much less used, bringing solely 29% of Liverpool’s pictures.
One other factor Liverpool lean into is effectivity. Having an ideal set of gamers is definitely helpful, however simplifying the sport additionally helps. In principle, as nearer to the objective a group shoots, the nearer they’re to scoring. Liverpool have the second-lowest common distance in pictures within the Premier League this season and the second-highest proportion of pictures taken contained in the field. Brentford lead each classes.
This strategy, together with the person high quality of the gamers, has led to Liverpool having, by far, the biggest quantity of huge probabilities within the Premier League this season: 110 – 16 greater than second-placed .
Lastly, however most positively not the least vital, the Anfield issue. The Reds maintain one of the best dwelling document within the league with a snug four-point margin, with one of the best defence and second-best assault on their very own turf.
Adaptability
Slot has additionally proven extra tactical flexibility by way of maintaining possession (or not). Thus far within the 2024-25 Premier League, Liverpool have had lower than 50% possession in eight of their 28 matches. That is their most in a single marketing campaign since 2014-15 (10 instances). And so they’ve nonetheless received 10 video games left to play.
Proportionally, Liverpool have had much less possession than their opponents in 28.6% of their video games this season — their most since 2013-14, once they had much less possession in 28.9% of their matches (11/38).
And to their credit score, Liverpool have definitely made essentially the most of their time with out the bal. The Reds have gained seven and drawn one of many eight matches wherein they’ve had much less possession than their opponents this season.
This season, the Reds have even gone so far as recording their lowest ball retention in a Premier League win on document — 34% of their win over Man Metropolis final weekend.
The Slot revolution has not solely maintained the general posture and excessive depth seen with Jurgen Klopp over the previous 10 years, but additionally added different traits which have solely improved the group as a complete. The result’s what seems to be like a sure league title within the Dutchman’s first try.